Citola Blog

Citola Sustainable Land Management: Biodiverse Tree Integration into Commercial Farming Operations

Submitted by Citola on Fri, 2012-02-10 00:40

Citola works with landholders in the design and implementation of sustainable land management strategies as part of its Carbon Farming Initiative programs to improve ‘on-farm’ productivity while enhancing natural biodiversity and carbon stores.

Citola projects involve the reforestation of a ecosystem for the predominant purpose of biodiversity restoration, carbon sequestration and positive land-use change. Project are designed with a view of satisfying the Reforestation Environmental Planting methodology developed and approved by the Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) and the subsequent direct sampling methodology guidelines. Projects are developed with the potential to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) according to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.

The complex, sustainable and biodiverse forestry ecosystem that is created by reforestation projects has the long-term benefits of enhancing the long-term sustainability and biodiversity of the project sites and reducing and preventing the spread of invasive species into the property and neighbouring habitat. The project activities and ongoing management undertaken by Citola, including the integration of a biodiverse reforestation program into a commercial farming property, are additional to business-as-usual practices undertaken by the landholder as part of their commercial farming operation. Citola provides all capital to develop and manage the project.

Landowners: How it Works

Citola works with landholders and rural communities through a consultative process where project objectives are achieved through (1) stakeholder consultation, (2) operational implementation of project activities and (3) transparent communication of project outcomes.

Should a property be suitable and meet all criteria, Citola will seek to formalise an agreement with the Landholder and incorporate the property into the carbon forestry program.

Citola finances the establishment and management of the project and agrees with the landholder the responsibilities of both parties and any remuneration according to the project size and specific requirements on the project site. When a property and planting site is selected, Citola will pay all costs for the project establishment and management: The Landholder has no costs for the establishment and management of the project.

Submit Expression of Interest

Landholders can register an Expression of Interest (EOI) by completing the EOI form and returning it to projects [at] citola.com. The EOI form provides to Citola the information required to assess the suitability of the property.

Download & Submit EOI Form

Sustainable versus Traditional Farming

In a traditional farming system, pasture improvement is undertaken to increase the nutritional value and performance of pasture grasses and legumes. Improved pastures can also contribute to soil nitrogen levels. Improvement may take the form of sowing pastures into tilled soil, oversowing into established pastures, applying fertiliser or increasing the decomposition of soil organic matter by soil cultivation. Soil tillage is the use of implements to manipulate the soil to prepare seedbeds and rootbeds, control weeds and brush, aerate the soil, and cause faster breakdown of organic matter and minerals to release plant foods. Traditionally, intensive long term grazing is followed by long term resting. The direct impacts of soil tillage may include reduced ground cover, soil nutrient loss, increased compaction, a decline in soil structure and increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In a sustainable farming system, pasture improvement can be achieved through maintaining zero tillage, short rotation ‘savannah’ grazing (cycle 2 days per paddock), mulching of grass to increase seed stock, retention of moisture and increased application of organic material. It can also see the incorporation of strategic planting of shelter belts for erosion control, moisture retention, stock shade and crop windbreaks.

Research (and ‘on-farm’ evidence from Citola landholders) has demonstrated that through improved land management practices that reduce soil erosion, increase nutrient levels, maintain soil health/moisture and positively influence climatic factors, can increase crop and stock productivity and yield. This is due to factors such as increased soil carbon content and the strategic planting of shelter belts for erosion control, moisture retention, stock shade and crop windbreaks.