Storing carbon and protecting the Great Barrier Reef through the Land Restoration Fund

Dan and Emma-Jane Burnham are diversifying their successful grazing business through their avoided-clearing carbon farming project delivered through Queensland’s Land Restoration Fund.

Background

The Burnham property is prime agricultural land in the Banana Shire in Central Queensland, where it benefits from excellent climatic conditions and good annual rainfall. The landholders are committed to sustainably breeding and growing cattle while caring for land that has historically been cleared for cattle grazing.

The Burnham Regenerative Production Project is being delivered through the Land Restoration Fund. It will retain and regenerate 190 hectares of native vegetation through the cessation of broad-scale clearing within the project areas and the implementation of time-controlled grazing to maintain the ground cover and soil structure.

Project benefits

The property contains 5.7 kilometres of riparian frontage, which flows into the Fitzroy River and onto the Great Barrier Reef. Management activities to retain mature vegetation along the creek banks will improve streambank stability, protect aquatic habitat and reduce sedimentation flowing to the Reef.

This project will also:

• improve the extent and condition of koala habitat
• invest in the local community by buying materials and services for infrastructure upgrades from local businesses and using local contractors to manage pest plants and feral species on an ongoing basis.