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"South West farmers will be among those in six regions across the country to have the chance to diversify their farm income and improve drought resilience as part of a new Federal Government trial. The $23.5 million carbon and biodiversity pilot, being delivered under the government&rsquo;s Agriculture Stewardship Package, encourages farmers to carry out mixed-species tree plantings on top of eligible JUcarbon projects. The trial will see farmers paid for the biodiversity benefits they deliver, rewarding them for planting blocks or shelterbelts of 20m or wider using one of the lists of native plant species included for the pilot. South West Catchment Council CEO Sally Wilkinson welcomed the initiative, saying it recognised and rewarded the efforts of farmers as environmental stewards. &ldquo;The South West is a global biodiversity hotspot but many of our local species, as well as the economic and community wellbeing of our region, are threatened due to habitat loss and climate change,&rdquo; she said. James Bowie, from Bridgetown&rsquo;s Bowie Beef, said he believed there would be a lot of interest in the pilot. &ldquo;Farming in the South West region, we continue to modify our practices to build drought resilience in a drying climate,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This exciting opportunity supports our efforts to do just that, while also providing us with an opportunity for income diversification.&rdquo;"
<https://www.mbtimes.com.au/news/south-western-times/south-west-farmers-join-carbon-and-biodiversity-pilot-ng-b881815183z>