Friday, 8 June 2012

Free Workshop in Bellingen on 17 May 2012 - planting native carbon forest


MEDIA RELEASE


Thursday, 17 May 2012
FREE workshop on planting native carbon forests in Bellingen!

Join Blacktown City Council in Bellingen from 9.30am to 4.00pm on Wednesday, 13 June 2012 for a FREE Plan A Regenesis Forest workshop.

The workshop is for the benefit of landowners, local councils, employees of the Catchment Management Authority, members of Landcare group, and other Non Government Organisation members, who are interested in planting a locally native forest that can be used for biodiversity enhancement, habitat expansion, stock shelter, a windbreak or soil salinity reduction. The workshop also provides information on how people can earn income through carbon trading.

Blacktown City Council will host the workshop, having carried out a very successful Regenesis project in partnership with Liverpool Plains Shire Council during 2008-2011. The project saw the planting of more than 222,000 native plants across 100 hectares of land and established over 30 native carbon forests, on less productive areas of privately owned farmland, Council-owned land and NSW Crown land.  

Regenesis was made possible through a $2 million grant from the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust, and became a model for planning and planting locally native reforestation projects that can create revenue for landholders through carbon trading.

Rural landowners know the value of planting native trees for stock shelter and wind breaks and to reduce soil salinity and enhance habitat.  The Regenesis workshop will help participants understand the additional considerations needed to establish native carbon forests and develop an income stream from carbon trading.  The workshop comes at a critical time, enabling people to understand how they might utilise the Federal Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative in practical ways. 

During the free workshop, the Regenesis project staff will share their revegetation and carbon farming knowledge and skills.
Experienced presenters will demystify carbon farming and offer mentoring and advice as participants look to establish forests on their own land. 
So join this special workshop to learn more about the Regenesis model, walk through the steps needed to plan a native carbon forest and learn how to register your forest for carbon trading purposes.
Register your interest in attending by emailing regenesis@blacktown.nsw.gov.au or for more information, call the Blacktown City Council Regenesis Team on 0423 784 019
This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust.
ENDS
For more information regarding the workshop, please call the Blacktown City Council Regenesis Team on 0423 784 019.
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