Farmers for Climate Action (FCA), with more than 8300 farmer members across Australia, has welcomed the Queensland Government's $140 million boost to the Queensland nature fund.
FCA CEO Natalie Collard said the announcement was great for farmers and great for nature and that expanding Queensland's protected areas on private farmland was an excellent idea.
"Farmers for Climate Action has long argued farmers should be paid for the biodiversity work they do," Ms Collard said.
"So many farmers would love to be paid drought-proof income to protect parts of their land - particularly parts which are already forested or less productive.
"Our webinar on farm biodiversity work and payments generated huge interest, and so many farmers told us they would love to manage part of their farm for conservation and be properly rewarded for it. Farmers can always name the local birdlife nesting in the tree hollows on their land, or tell you about the frogs down by the waterway.
"The clean, green brand of Australia's farmers has sent our produce all over the world, and farmers want to continue that tradition and leave a natural legacy to their children and grandchildren.
"What a farmer chooses to farm on their land should always be their own choice. The fact farmers are now starting to branch out to farm biodiversity and carbon alongside their livestock, horticulture or cotton makes farms more financially sustainable and drought-resilient. We also know that nature belts actually increase productivity by creating shade in summer and shelter in winter, so livestock can spend their energy fattening up.
"At Farmers for Climate Action, we always say we need to look after our profit, our productivity, our people and our planet, and this announcement looks after all four."
