Information for landholders
Key dates
Stage 1 Initial applications for Investment Round 3 are now closed.
- Stage 1 Initial applications opened on 13 April 2023 and closed at 2:00pm (AEST) on 16 June 2023.
Please note changes to Stage 2 application timing:
- If you are shortlisted for Stage 2, you will be notified in September 2023.
- Stage 2 Final applications close 2:00pm (AEST) on 13 October 2023.
Investment Round 3 is now closed. The below information is provided to help landholders explore carbon farming in Queensland and access information and resources made available during Round 3.
The Land Restoration Fund (LRF) is Queensland’s $500 million fund investing in high quality carbon farming projects. The LRF invests in land management projects that not only keep carbon in the ground, but also deliver positive impacts or ‘co-benefits’ for our environment and communities.
Understanding how the LRF values carbon and co-benefits is key to building a strong project application.
The following resources are recommended for anyone new to carbon farming or the LRF and should be read before starting an application.
Getting started
Designing and registering a carbon farming project is complex. Some landholders find it most efficient to have a professional carbon project developer complete the application and manage the subsequent project. Other landholders choose to manage the application and project themselves.
It is important to decide which approach best suits you. Landholders should seek independent advice prior to entering any commercial arrangement that may have legal or financial implications for your land or land management practices.
Find out what it takes to put together a successful application for the LRF, with or without third party assistance, from those who have an established LRF project.
- Landholder managed: Zeebra Plains case study
- Assisted by a carbon project developer: Burnham Regenerative Production Project
Investment Round 3 workshops
The LRF in partnership with NRM Regions Queensland and the Queensland Farmers’ Federation held workshops and webinars in April 2023.
Watch the recording of the landholder webinar.
Investment Round 3 resources
- Project eligibility checklist
Ensure your project meets the minimum eligibility criteria for Investment Round 3 by going through the checklist before you start your application. - Application process map
Moving from application to signed contract involves several stages. Make sure you know what happens at every step of the application and contracting process so you can plan accordingly. - LRF Investment Application Guidelines
Detailed guidance on the submission process and application requirements. - LRF Co-benefits Standard v1.4
All LRF projects must deliver co-benefits alongside carbon abatement or avoidance. The Co-benefits Standard explains what co-benefits are, how they are defined and how LRF projects are expected to measure and verify their co-benefits. - Using online tools to assess eligibility for Land Restoration Fund environmental co-benefits
This document specifies which free online software can be used to help identify eligibility for each environmental co-benefit class. - Priority Investment Plan
The LRF Priority Investment Plan sets out the vision and objectives for the LRF and specifies the key priorities for achieving these objectives. The LRF Investment Panel invests in projects that best meet the LRF’s key priorities. - Project Investment Agreement
Contract offers made through Investment Round 3 will follow standard terms and conditions set out in the Project Investment Agreement. Ensure you understand how these terms and conditions are likely to affect you from a legal standpoint before applying. - Investment Rounds Report
Learn about the investments the LRF has made including project metrics such as average ACCU and co-benefits prices and the percentage of projects that were offered contracts in each round.
Preparing for future rounds
The process of assessing your property, developing a project plan and submitting an application takes time.
Be notified of new Investment Rounds by signing up to the LRF mailing list.
Helpful links
Take advantage of free online education tools and calculators to help you identify potential carbon farming opportunities on your property.
Carbon Farming Foundation resources
- Education Hub – Explore more than 40 articles and videos explaining carbon farming topics in detail.
- Carbon Farming FAQs – A list of succinct answers to common carbon farming questions.
Meat and Livestock Australia resources
- Carbon 101 – online course
- Carbon Sense – online course
- Measuring your own emissions – online course.
CSIRO Landscape options and opportunities for carbon abatement calculator
- Assess your options for certain carbon methods from your desktop using the CSIRO carbon abatement calculator tool.
Other resources
- Carbon Opportunity Decision Support Tool – A questionnaire designed to help you navigate options for carbon farming on your property, produced by AgriFutures and the Australian Farm Institute.
- Farmer's handbook to on-farm carbon management – a handbook to support producers with practical information on the feasibility of carbon sequestration activities on their farm, produced by AgriFutures and Carbon Count.
- Tax implications of carbon farming - Advice from BDO on the taxation of Australian Carbon Credit Units and biodiversity projects