RFAs: Low Carbon Landscapes Grant Program (Australia)

Deadline: 7-Aug-25

The Government of New South Wales is requesting applications for its Low Carbon Landscapes Grant Program to scale up high quality carbon abatement from the primary industries and land sector, by supporting the development of financially viable projects which can attract investment.

Objectives

• The objectives of this funding are to:
  • support a range of ambitious, landscape-scale, high quality carbon abatement projects in the primary industries and land sector through the initial stages of project development, up to the point where they are able to secure investment
  • develop a range of financially viable models for project delivery
  • increase private sector investment in high quality carbon abatement projects in the primary industries and land sector.

Scope

• The scope of the Low Carbon Landscapes grant round covers the initial stages of project development for landscape-scale, high quality carbon abatement projects in the primary industries and land sector, up to the point where they are able to secure investment. This should include a focus on developing a financially viable model for project delivery and identifying suitable sources of private investment to enable on-ground implementation.
• Carbon abatement activities within the scope of this grant program include:
  • increasing carbon storage in vegetation, soils, coastal, or marine areas across all land types
  • reducing emissions from livestock, land use, land use change, and forestry.
• While the focus is on carbon abatement, funded projects must aim to achieve this in a way that delivers other benefits. These other benefits are referred to as co-benefits and can include:
  • improvements to biodiversity, water quality, soil health, or climate resilience
  • Aboriginal cultural benefits
  • social and economic benefits for local communities

Benefits

• Land managers: Land managers involved in a funded project can better understand the opportunities presented by environmental markets and get the support needed to make informed choices and attract investment.
• Primary producers: In addition to the benefits available to land managers, by engaging with a funded project, primary producers can identify opportunities to boost productivity through improved land management, and achieve a commercial advantage by demonstrating a commitment to improved environmental performance.
• Aboriginal land managers: Aboriginal land managers engaged with a funded project can explore opportunities for carbon projects on country that generate income and restore and protect country.
• Businesses in the food and fibre sectors: Businesses in the industry can work with producers in their supply chain to determine how they will deliver high-quality carbon abatement with co-benefits.
• Local councils: Local councils that lead or participate in a funded project can work with their communities to develop ambitious and financially viable plans for carbon abatement.
• Utilities companies and infrastructure operators: Utilities companies and infrastructure operators can understand the opportunities on their land and/or work with other land managers to achieve their environmental goals, reduce risk or costs, and increase the climate resilience of their assets.
• Carbon credit buyers: Carbon credit buyers can benefit from engaging in a funded project by securing a supply of high-quality carbon credits with verifiable co-benefits to help meet compliance requirements or voluntary commitments.
• Investors: Investors engaged in a funded project can identify high-quality investment opportunities which align with their environmental and social commitments and generate a return. Funded projects will provide the credibility, confidence and governance structures required to invest.

Funding Information

• Funding available: $10 million
• Grant amount:
  • up to $500,000 for projects with one target landscape area
  • up to $1,000,0000 for projects with 2 to 5 target landscape areas
• Duration: up to 3 years.

Eligible Activities

• Scoping:
  • Activities in this stage should include:
    • engaging with land managers, local communities and other stakeholders within the target landscape area, including Traditional Owners or Aboriginal community
    • representatives, and developing a shared vision and objectives
    • mapping relevant landscape features, collecting data, and understanding the local and regional context
• Landscape planning:
  • Activities in this stage should include:
    • assessing the feasibility, costs and benefits of the identified opportunities, including their carbon abatement potential and relevant co-benefits
    • evaluating options for revenue generation, cost savings and investment and estimating the potential return on investment
• Market engagement:
  • Activities in this stage should include:
    • developing a financial model(s) and governance arrangements for project delivery
    • negotiating with potential buyers and investors.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants include:
  • farmers or agribusinesses
  • Aboriginal landholders or land managers including Traditional Owner groups, land
  • councils or Registered Native Title Body Corporates
  • not-for-profit organisations
  • government entities, including NSW Government agencies and local government
  • natural resource management/conservation organisations
  • peak bodies or industry organisations
  • producer associations
  • co-operative/mutual organisations.

Ineligibility Criteria

• This grant cannot be used for projects related to:
  • energy use and transport-related emissions
  • technological carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere and geological storage.

For more information, visit NSW Government.