The AgCarE team have just launched a new product called NatureLedger, providing farmers with a dataset of maps and information which puts them in control when trying to navigate both the recent changes to the federal EPBC act and the rapidly morphing carbon and bio-diversity markets.

Peter Mahony is a beef producer from Gyranda near Theodore and, together with wife Nikki and four other stud operators is part of Bush Agribusiness’ Profitable Genetics Group.

He also sits on the AgCarE board and at a recent group meeting outlined NatureLedger for the group.

“This comes not a moment too soon for landholders trying to make sense of what they can and cannot do under the new federal EPBC rules” Mr Mahony said.

After an initial discussion and supplying lot and plans a farmer receives a dossier of maps, datasheets and a summary of what is most relevant to their property, including risks and opportunities.

“Most of this is publicly available data, but the real power of the NatureLedger is in being able to focus on what is important to each individual, clean up the less important, or irrelevant information and then provide geo-referenced maps which are ideal for ground-truthing the exact points on my farm.”

“It outlines what the government maps show about my clearing history, including fires, how much ‘forest’ I have and what areas have been treated in the last 15 years”.

It also maps the areas of state and federal significance. Providing some landholders with the option to pursue bio-diversity offsets.

AgCarE is offering the NatureLedger as a stand alone product , or as the first module in the larger AgCarE analysis which measures a farm’s natural capital.

“At $1800 for such a bespoke set of information, I think it is tremendous value. A tool that I have already utilised when planning how and when I manage my vegetation…once (if) the price of diesel comes back to reality”.

Information on NatureLedger and the larger AgCarE service can be found at agcare.org.au

Image at top of story from Gyranda NatureLedger Report outlining those areas of vegetation within Category X (state law) that have been cleared before, or within the last 15 years. The questions to be asked are: Do I want to clear these areas? If so, have they been cleared in the last 15 years? If not, then are they subject to the new Federal laws under the EPBC act and what process do I need to go through to clear and not be prosecuted? Article source: Bush Agribusiness