The NSW government says it is delivering $11 million to build a pipeline of low carbon farming and land management projects, with the aim of cutting pollution and supporting NSW’s transition to net zero.
Over time, these projects aim to save millions of tonnes of carbon pollution, helping protect the climate for future generations while developing new innovations in low carbon farming, making farms healthier and more productive, growing more trees, protecting wildlife and natural habitats, and creating more jobs and opportunities for people living in regional communities.
So far, nine projects worth more than $6.6 million have been approved and will begin soon. The remaining Low Carbon Landscapes grantees will be announced over the coming months.
One project will support WWF Australia’s Koala-Friendly Carbon Initiative which is empowering local landholders to restore vital habitat for endangered east coast koalas. Funding will be used to develop a model for high-integrity carbon projects that support biodiversity, Indigenous leadership and nature-positive restoration across the Richmond and Clarence catchments.
Another project, delivered by Australia Wool Innovation, will work with 21 sheep farms to develop a reliable way to measure and track soil carbon over time, while assessing each farm’s potential to run carbon projects.
The grants will help with early planning work, talking with local landowners, choosing the best methods of carbon abatement, exploring market opportunities, business cases and attract private investment.
NSW DCCEEW Executive Director Jenny Merkley said, ‘This funding helps project proponents do the groundwork needed to engage with carbon markets and attract private investment, turning strong concepts into commercially viable projects that can scale up carbon abatement across NSW.
‘Projects like these also have the potential to restore landscapes, improve biodiversity and deliver lasting benefits for regional communities while helping us meet our climate goals.’
Confirmed projects as of 9 April 2026
- Greening Australia – Growing a Low-Carbon Future: Partnering with Farmers for Biodiversity, Climate and Community Resilience in South-East NSW. Southern Tablelands/South-East NSW.
- World Wide Fund for Nature Australia – Koala Friendly Carbon Initiative: Scaling High-Integrity Carbon Projects Through Investment-Ready Models and Cultural Co-Design.
Richmond & Clarence catchments. - Little River Landcare Group – Restoration Economics: Unlocking Small-Scale Environmental Planting Potential in NSW. Central Tablelands.
- Australian Wool Innovation – Building Scalable, High-Integrity Soil Carbon Scoping and Reporting for NSW Pasture-Based Production Systems. NSW (21 sheep grazing properties state-wide).
- Regen Farmers Mutual – System Improvement and Market Development of Woodlands Design. Southern Tablelands.
- Western Murray Land Improvement Group – Murray Inland Delta Carbon + Nature Positive Program. Murray region.
- Riverine Plains Inc – Integrated Carbon Project Design for Farm Profitability and Landscape Co-Benefits. Riverina.
- Holbrook Landcare Group: Upper Billabong Low Carbon Landscapes. Upper Billabong region.
- Macka’s Australian Black Angus Beef Pty Ltd: Establishing Australia’s first Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) nature-based solutions program in the Hunter / Gloucester region. Hunter/Gloucester.
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