The NRM Regions Australia Carbon Farming and Environmental Markets Knowledge project is funded by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) for a three-year period from June 2023- 2026. The project was developed to support capacity and knowledge building in regional NRM organisations to increase and support participation in environmental market initiatives and optimise projects to achieve additional co-benefits. The project builds on an earlier 27-month Carbon Farming Knowledge project funded by DCCEEW (previously DISER) .
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW)
This project is current until June 2026
Explore resources contributed and created through this project
The purpose of the Carbon and Environmental Markets Knowledge project is to build capacity among regional NRM organisations to understand, engage with and support participation and engagement of landholders with carbon and environmental markets.
Carbon and environmental markets provide pathways for investment in nature restoration. Supporting regional NRM organisations to engage with these markets can help utilise additional, private investment sources to deliver natural resource management activities that are aligned with regional NRM plans.
The knowledge project supports a part-time knowledge broker within NRM Regions Australia. The knowledge broker has coordinated and delivered outreach and engagement activities for regional NRM organisations, and engaged with government and other stakeholders to influence and develop policy that will deliver better outcomes that are aligned with regional NRM plan objectives.
Achievements and outcomes of the project since it commenced in 2021 include:
The knowledge broker also provides NRM-informed feedback and input to Australian Government policy and programs through both formal and informal channels to support the delivery of programs, policy and legislation that is fit for purpose and outcomes focussed. Through the knowledge broker, the project provides a direct connection between the Australian Government to staff in regional NRM organisations, enabling the government to receive timely and practical input and advice on program delivery-such as through user-testing of PLANR, that was undertaken by around 15 NRM staff last year.
The project has also enabled NRM Regions Australia, through the knowledge broker, to participate in more general outreach measures to promote the value of involvement of regional NRM organisations in optimising benefits from environmental market and carbon projects, such as presenting at conferences and forums, and engaging with a wide range of external stakeholders, including research and industry organisations. These initiatives have increased awareness of the role of regional NRM organisations in carbon farming and environmental markets, connected regional NRMs and other stakeholders to build knowledge and networks, and supported the development of new partnerships, for example the Carbon for Nature report by CMI and NRM Regions Australia.
The continued funding of the project acknowledges the key role regional NRM organisations play in carbon and environmental markets – regional NRM staff are trusted to provide independent, context-specific support to landholders that aligns with their farm business goals and supports achievement of regional and landscape-scale co-benefits.
