When Reef Credits launched in 2020, there was just one way farmers and other land managers could get involved – by improving fertiliser management to reduce the flow of dissolved inorganic nitrogen to the Great Barrier Reef. Now, three years later, there are two new ways to get involved that suit a broader spectrum of farming operations.
Repairing gullies to reduce sediment run-off
Under the Reduction in Sediment Run-Off Through Gully Rehabilitation method, farmers, graziers and other land managers can earn Reef Credits by achieving measured reductions in the flow of sediment to the Reef, by repairing gullies with work including earthworks, re-seeding and fencing.
GreenCollar Business Development Manager Bart Dryden said while the gully repair method is relatively new, it promises to deliver strong outcomes – both to land managers and the overall health of the Reef.
“Gully repair projects are complicated because we have to undertake detailed studies to determine how much sediment is coming from a gully to calculate reductions. And gullies are expensive to repair.”
“There is, however, a lot of potential as independent research suggests there are around 22,000 actively eroding gullies in the Great Barrier Reef catchment area, each producing between 176 to 370 tonnes of sediment per hectare each year.
“Over a 25 year project lifetime, the outcome from rehabilitating a gully and improved land management will be to save a lot of sediment and generate long term additional income, with one Reef Credit issued for every 536 kilograms of sediment prevented from flowing to the Reef.”
Reducing nutrient run-off through wetlands
Reducing nutrient run-off through treatment wetlands generates Reef Credits for measured reductions in dissolved inorganic nitrogen reaching the Great Barrier Reef.
Mr Dryden explained the wetland approach is a relatively new methodology, where run-off water was filtered through wetland treatment systems.
“What we are doing is using the biological denitrification process – which occurs in all natural wetlands – to benefit the Reef.
“Not every property will have a project opportunity for a wetland, but quite often there are naturally low-lying drainage areas on a farm where this approach can be constructed and effectively put in place without removing productive land from the farm.”
Reducing nutrient run off through Managed Fertiliser Application
The first Reef Credit method to be established was the Managed Fertiliser Application method – best suited to cane growers, banana growers and grain or fodder growers within the Great Barrier Reef catchment area.
Mr Dryden emphasised that although the ultimate goal is to reduce the flow of nitrogen to the Reef, the approach isn’t just about reducing fertiliser usage, but about identifying the right amount of fertiliser to be applied, at the right time, and in the right location to maximise efficiency.
“Land managers aren’t in the business of throwing money away on fertiliser, but it’s an expensive overhead, and one that is important for productivity. Managed fertiliser projects are about improving operational practices to help farmers get more out of the fertiliser they are using, which has a positive impact on running costs as well as earning additional income through Reef Credits.”
Identifying the win:win
All three approaches act in a complementary manner, allowing farmers and graziers to choose the most suitable action for their farming landscape and operational system.
Mr Dryden said the emphasis with any approach is to sit down with the land manager and determine a solution that best works for their area and their farming operations.
“Because of the infrastructure requirements around gully rehabilitation and constructing wetlands, it is important to get it right, and the initial consultation is a crucial part of this process.”
“The exciting opportunity with these approaches is taking areas that are difficult to manage (such as a gully), or that are relatively unproductive (such as a wet or drainage area), and making them a productive part of the farming enterprise.”
“They may not be productive in the sense of the agriculture operation, but they can become productive from a revenue perspective, diversifying income and helping improve farm viability over the longer term.”
Mr Dryden explained that Reef Credits help deliver returns to landholders for up to 25 years.
“While nitrogen projects are in place for ten years, the projects for gullies and wetlands extend for 25 years, so with the right approach and scale, both can make a valuable economic contribution to how a farm is managed,” Mr Dryden said.
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Method |
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Best suited to |
Cane growers Banana growers Grain and fodder growers |
Cane growers Banana growers Grain and fodder growers |
Grazing operations |
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How it works |
Reduces flow of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) through improved fertiliser management |
Reduces flow of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) by using wetlands filtration systems |
Reduces flow of fine sediment by repairing gullies |
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Length of project |
Up to 10 years |
Up to 25 years |
Up to 25 years |
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Project action |
Reducing quantity of nitrogen loss, relative to the project baseline period, through improved management practices and/or reduced nitrogen application. |
Design and implementation of an eligible wetland treatment system within the Great Barrier Reef catchments. |
Design and implement landscape rehabilitation to reduce the amount of sediment loss from gully erosion. Interventions many include:
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