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Earning and trading carbon credits

The carbon market landscape is evolving, with new carbon market schemes, initiatives and programs being introduced.

The Indigenous carbon industry holds significant potential. Between November 2021 and April 2024, its value grew by 11 percent, with carbon credits from Indigenous carbon farming projects rising from $53 million to $59 million in value. Businesses that want to meet net-zero commitments and government policies are driving the demand for carbon credits, and this is expected to continue to grow.

First Nations involvement in carbon projects works best when communities own the project and help run it. Having control creates a broad range of benefits – not just environmental – such as social, cultural and economic.

Traditional knowledge has shaped the Savanna Fire Management method, which uses traditional fire practices to reduce emissions and create ACCUs. First Nations people are also bringing their traditional caring for Country approach to tree planting and forest restoration carbon projects.

Key steps to consider in a carbon project:

Choose scheme: ACCU, Verra (VCS), Gold Standard
Check eligibility and method: Make sure your project type is allowed (e.g., vegetation, soil carbon, waste, energy efficiency) and confirm you have the legal right to run the project and landholder and Native Title holder consent.
Plan your project: Understand the permanence requirements that might apply to your project (some projects require a commitment 25 to 100 years) and work out the expected carbon reduction/removal. Include baseline emissions, monitoring plan, and risk assessment.
Register: complete documents online to register in your chosen scheme and submit relevant documents for your project.
Wait for approval: confirm that your project has been accepted. Once approved, you can start project activities.
Validation and verification: Independent auditors will need to check your project against the standards, this can be costly and requires budget.
Carbon credits issued: After project implementation, monitoring and verification, credits will be issued and can be sold.

Organisation	Support	Description
Indigenous Carbon Industry Network (ICIN)	Knowledge sharing and capacity building	Provide knowledge sharing, capacity building and advocacy to support Indigenous participation and leadership.
Arnhem Land Fire Abatement	Project administration, Trading, Knowledge sharing and capacity building	Northern Territory business providing services including selling carbon credits into the market, knowledge sharing, capacity building and advocacy to support Indigenous participation and leadership
Aboriginal Carbon Foundation	Project administration, Trading	Indigenous-owned not-for-profit carbon project aggregator, trader and project developer.
Kimberley Land Council	Project administration, Trading	As the Native Title Representative Body for the Kimberley region, the KLC functions as a facilitator for carbon trading and project administration in the region.
Central Land Council	Project administration	As the Commonwealth corporate entity responsible for managing Aboriginal land in the southern part of the Northern Territory, the CLC supports carbon project administration for landholders in this region.
North Kimberly Fire Abatement Project	Aggregated carbon projects over exclusive possession native title lands	Is run by the four north Kimberley native title groups Dambimangari, Wilinggin, Wunambal Gaambera Uunguu and Balanggarra with the Kimberley Land Council providing co-ordination and technical support services to the PBC’s.
ILSC’s Savanna Fire Management Program (funding from INPEX)	Finance	Start-up funding for Savanna Fire Management projects.
Ranger groups	Project implementation	Roles range from end-to-end management of carbon projects, through to provision of services to projects owned by non-Indigenous interests.
North Australian Fire Information	Measuring, reporting and verification	Savanna fire mapping website support measuring, reporting and verification through collaboration with technical partners.

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Get involved

Earning and trading carbon credits

First Nations involvement in carbon projects works best when communities own the project and help run it. Having control creates a broad range of benefits – not just environmental – such as social, cultural and economic.

Key steps to consider in a carbon project:

Guides & support

Acknowledgement of Country