Carbon Farming Initiative – a new enterprise for Aboriginal group
Capturing carbon, unlocking wealth for Aborigines BY: MARK SCHLIEBS AND PATRICIA KARVELAS The Australian July 13, 2012 JOHN Kite is at the helm of a newly acquired, neglected cattle station in South Australia’s outback that could soon become one of the first indigenous-owned carbon farming projects in the country.
The 56-year-old from Watarru in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in the state’s northwest has been put in charge of turning the 4900 square kilometres of scrub and rock into a money spinner for Aborigines under the Carbon Farming Initiative, which came into effect this month.
Pitjantjatjara Council secured the pastoral lease for Mabel Creek
station, 60km northwest of the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, last
month at well below market value from a desperate seller.
Mr Kite said he aimed to get across all the aspects of carbon farming
as soon as possible.
“We’ve had talks with scientists even before taking up the lease on
the place,” Mr Kite said. “I’m supposed to pick up whatever I can from
them.” As Regional Development Minister Simon Crean sees it, Mr Kite’s
operation will be one of many delivering indigenous jobs and wealth as
a direct result of the creation of a carbon price. He said yesterday
the nation’s first inhabitants would be targeted for carbon farming.
“One of the traditional forms of treating the land, repairing the
land, was the savanna burning and the management of that also reduces
greenhouse emissions,” Mr Crean told The Australian last night.
“If it can be done in an organised way and measured, indigenous people
are not only going back to their traditional skills they practised,
they can earn money. That’s our objective. What we’ve got to do is get
the measurements and the science right and we’ve got to engage them
and drive the agenda.
“This is something that can be done out on the pastoral leases, can be
done with the beef industry and can be done as part of an integrated
approach. It can also be done on their lands.” Mr Crean said that 20
years on from Mabo there was a realisation that the fundamental
connection with land could be turned to economic advantage.
At Mabel Creek, Aborigines who have a spiritual connection with the
land will be employed to make the carbon farm, which was purchased
after the council secured commercial loans against assets and property
in Alice Springs. Pitjantjatjara Council, which once ran services in
the APY Lands, will hire Adelaide-based Northwest Carbon director Tim
Moore to teach it how to sell carbon credits from the land.
Under the carbon trading scheme, each carbon credit amounts to a tonne
of carbon dioxide equivalents saved from emission. About 500 companies
must either pay a tax or buy carbon credits, via brokers or direct
from carbon farmers, to offset their emissions…..
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/climate/capturing-carbon-unlocking-wealth-for-aborigines/story-e6frg6xf-1226424923887
No comments yet.
1.This month.
Zoom webinar – “Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange.”
April 7th at 11:30 am PST / 2:30 pm EST
Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange”
Join us for an informative webinar with renowned atmospheric scientist, Professor Brian Toon, as he discusses the environmental risks and global impacts of a nuclear war. Despite the potential damage caused by the blast from even small nuclear weapons, many countries continue to invest in and expand nuclear arsenals. Professor Toon will provide a scientific assessment of civilian fatalities, agricultural failures, climate concerns, and complications with food supply that would follow any international nuclear conflict. We need to plan how to prevent nuclear conflict and avoid catastrophe. Politicians and military planners must be made aware of global climate and agricultural complications that would ensue. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from, and engage in, this vital conversation
The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.
The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.
Antinuclear 
Leave a Reply