The first Indigenous-generated, Kyoto compliant Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) are about to go to the market.

In an Australian first, the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) expects to have up to 25,884 ACCUs for sale and is seeking expressions of interest to purchase credits from entities and corporations.

The carbon credits were generated during 2011 and 2012 on Fish River, a largely pristine 178,000 hectare property owned by the ILC on the banks of the mighty Daly River south west of Darwin.

The property is home to many rare and threatened animal species such as the Northern Quoll, Gouldian Finch and Masked Owl and has areas on monsoon rainforest and nationally-significant wetlands.

The Fish River Fire Project is Australia’s first controlled savanna burning project to gain approval to produce carbon credits for sale under the Australian Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative.

ILC Chairperson Dr Dawn Casey said Fish River carbon credits offer an innovative and unique solution for corporations to meet their carbon liability in a way that will make a real difference to the lives of Indigenous Australians and help protect the environment.

“Early, dry season savanna burning on Fish River has been scientifically proven to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be generated by uncontrolled, late dry season wild fires.”

“Under the Fish River Fire Project, Indigenous Rangers combine traditional burning knowledge with modern technology to help combat climate change,” Dr Casey said.

The sale of carbon credits will generate a new income stream for land management on Fish River and provide environmentally-based jobs for Indigenous people. The ILC will use Fish River to inform the development of other Indigenous savanna burning projects. A full brochure detailing the carbon credit offer is available on www.fish river.com.au

Media enquiries to Eric Roberts on 0417 818482First Indigenous carbon credits to go on market