Two blue carbon projects share in $28.5 million for Reef coastal restoration

Greening Australia will help deliver two of 18 projects awarded a share of $28.5 million, invested by the Australian Government to support restoration of coastal habitats in the Great Barrier Reef catchments.

Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, Senator Nita Green, said: “These grants will allow us to build resilience and future-proof the Reef. Improving the health and resilience of Reef coastal habitats and ecosystems will also contribute towards water quality targets.

“These vital projects will be delivered by trusted, local experts who know exactly where to target investment to get the best results.”

Greening Australia’s two Reef coastal restoration projects both focus on restoring blue carbon ecosystems (what is blue carbon?), building on experience gained working alongside Nywaigi Traditional Owners for the Mungalla Blue Carbon Project.

The project in the Mulgrave Catchment aims to plant 15,000 seedlings as part of efforts to reduce bank erosion while extending wildlife habitat. Photo credit Simone Vinton.

Our Reef Aid team are collaborating with local experts, Traditional Owners, landholders, and for-purpose environmental credits company Canopy to ensure these projects maximise benefits for the Reef, Reef communities and for all the diverse native species that depend on healthy riparian, coastal and marine habitat.

Blue Carbon Restoration, Mulgrave Catchment

Lisa O’Mara, Greening Australia’s Program Officer in Cairns, will lead delivery of one the funded projects, which will work with private landholders with the aim of restoring former cane land to tidal wetlands in Deeral, North Queensland.

She’s excited to get started on this multi-layered Reef Aid project, which will aim to maximise benefits to both people and nature – seeking to reduce sediment run-off and increase water quality for riparian and Reef ecosystems, extend native vegetation cover in a key habitat corridor, and boost blue carbon sequestration from altering tidal barriers.

“We’ll be using soft-engineering and strategic planting of native vegetation to reduce some extensive bank erosion where the landholders’ property meets the Mulgrave River,” said Lisa.

“We aim to convert 5.5 hectares of marginal cane land on the property into native tidal and riparian vegetation by direct planting 15,000 seedlings.

“And at the same time, the Canopy team will assess the feasibility of expanding the tidal inundation footprint by modifying tidal barriers, and determine whether the project could generate carbon credits under the new blue carbon method to support ongoing maintenance.”

Another project will be developed and delivered in partnership with Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation, in the region of Mackay. Photo credit Tropical Exposure.

Yuwi Blue Carbon Wetland Restoration

Another project funded will be developed and delivered in partnership with Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation and Yuwi People, the Traditional Custodians of Country in the region of Mackay in Central Queensland.

Hayley Young, Greening Australia’s First Nations Engagement Coordinator, said, “The Traditional Custodians of Yuwibara Country have deep connections with and knowledge of these lands and waters. In this project Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation will contribute to a number of workshops drawing on that knowledge to assess a range of potential sites where blue carbon ecosystems could be restored, with a view to restoring a priority site together.”

“One of the blue carbon sites identified by Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation will then undergo a detailed design, cultural and environmental approvals assessment, restoration plan and on-ground restoration, including reinstating tidal flows by removing bunds.”

“Both Greening Australia’s Reef Aid team and the Canopy team will walk beside Yuwibara Traditional Custodians through the process, sharing what knowledge we have about coastal habitat restoration and the blue carbon method. I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together for Yuwi Country, Yuwi People and for the Reef.”

Greening Australia will work with Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation and Yuwi People to identify sites for blue carbon ecosystem restoration. Photo credit Tropical Exposure.

The ‘Blue Carbon Restoration, Mulgrave Catchment’ and ‘Yuwi Blue Carbon Wetland Restoration’ projects are funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, and delivered in partnership between Greening Australia’s Reef Aid team, James Cook University’s TropWater, Madjandji Aboriginal Corporation, Mulgrave Landcare and Catchment Group, and Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation.
 

More about our Reef Aid program

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