The Government today announced the establishment of the independent Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board.
The Board, chaired by former NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus, has been established as part of the Clean Energy Future Plan which passed Parliament earlier this month.
The Board will advise the Government on a range of measures that will increase the land sector’s resilience to climate change and improve long-term farm productivity.
The measures will also assist landholders and regional communities to benefit from the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the sequestration of carbon in soil, living biomass or organic matter.
The Board will advise the Government on the implementation of the Land Sector Package, performance indicators of the package and the priorities for research under the package.
The package includes the:
- Biodiversity Fund
- Carbon Farming Futures Fund
- Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund
- Regional Natural Resource Management Planning for Climate Change Fund
- Non-Kyoto Carbon Fund; and
- Carbon Farming Skills program
Over the next six years $1.7 billion will be invested in measures that create great opportunities for regional and rural Australian land managers to participate in the carbon market by replanting native vegetation and storing carbon in soils.
On-ground works to increase soil carbon and restore vegetation will reduce carbon in the atmosphere and increase the resilience of the Australian environment to climate change.
The Land Sector Package, including the Biodiversity Fund, represents an unprecedented opportunity for landholders, including Indigenous communities, to participate in these activities.
Members of the Land Sector Carbon and Biodiversity Board are jointly appointed by Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Tony Burke and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Joe Ludwig.
The Board members are:
The Hon Bob Debus (Chair)
Mr Debus has expertise in environmental policy, governance and law. A former state and federal government Minister, Mr Debus is the Independent Chair of the National Wildlife Corridors Plan Advisory Group which is assisting in the development of the Australian Government's National Wildlife Corridors Plan.
Professor Lesley Hughes Professor
Lesley Hughes is an expert in the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems. She is a professorial fellow with the Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, a commissioner on the Climate Commission, and a lead author on the IPCC fourth and fifth assessment reports.
Mr David Crombie
Mr David Crombie is a former President of the National Farmers' Federation.
Mr Joe Ross
Mr Joe Ross is the former chair of the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce. He is a member of the Bunuba people in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Joe has been prominent in facilitating the development of the National Indigenous Climate Change Project.
Ms Anna Skarbek
Ms Anna Skarbek is the Executive Director at Climate Works Australia, a member of the Australian Government's NGO roundtable on climate change and a director of the Carbon Market Institute, Sustainable Melbourne Fund, Thermometer Foundation for Social Research on Climate Change and Linking Melbourne Authority.
For further information on the Clean Energy Future package go to www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au or call 1800 057 590.
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