Regional Natural Resource Management groups are leading the way in developing landscape-scale carbon projects in readiness for an emissions trading environment.

The Regional Group Collective is rolling out carbon systems across Queensland, which pool the efforts of landholders no matter what their size. These systems are based the Degree Celsius case study carried out in the Wet Tropics Region. Degree Celsius is a carbon joint venture, which has intensively trialled a regional carbon pooling system based on existing regional frameworks and robust international carbon accounting methodologies.

"We reckon we've got one of the most advanced regional approaches in the world" said Andrew Drysdale CEO of the Regional Group Collective representing all 13 Regional bodies in Queensland.

Amendments hammered out by the Government and Opposition late last year paved the way for a raft of carbon offsets. Once the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is enacted landholders across the landscape can begin to earn a dollar through good management. "It's not only about planting trees" said Mr Drysdale, "it's also about growing your carbon by not clearing and encouraging regrowth, using less fertilizer on crops, cattle management and even fire management".

Not only does putting a carbon monetary value on land management earn money for the landholder it also contributes to reducing deforestation and degradation and improving agricultural practices.

"Whatever can be counted in a robust way can be traded" said Penny van Oosterzee, Manager of Degree Celsius. "We're rolling out the Degree Celsius systems as we speak" she said "with a series of workshop across the State, and beyond."