This article was originally published on Australian Farmers.
“Last week agriculture’s environmental, finance and research leaders met at the Natural Capital Summit in Brisbane during Queensland Climate Week.
During a two-day ‘mega workshop’ participants put their heads together to discuss the genesis of a Natural Capital Roadmap. They covered topics on policy, solutions to improved management, governance structures, research, and finance and investments on natural capital – Australia’s stock of natural assets.
These ‘natural assets’ can include geology, soil, air, water and all living things. Healthy ecosystems underpin a suitable and stable climate and are necessary safeguards for healthy people and thriving regional communities.
Australia’s natural systems are under continued pressure from increasing demand for food and fibre from a growing population, changing consumer demands, market pressures driving land degradation, and the effects of climate change.
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999(EPBC Act) farmers have legislative obligation to manage the landscape and biodiversity on their land without financial compensation.
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has a Natural Capital Policy that is widely supported by the agricultural industry, which aims to overcome the degradation of Australia’s natural capital by minimising the disadvantage of landholders who are struggling to cover the costs of environmental stewardship. Through attributing a value to these landscape features, development of a market will follow.
…“Rewarding farmers for their management of the natural environment is a key element to the NFF’s plan for agriculture to achieve farm gate output of $100 billion by 2030….”
Read on at: Australian Farmers.
