Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Grants of up to $500,000 for projects with one target landscape area, or up to $1,000,000 for projects with two to five target landscape areas.
- Application opened: 7 May 2025
- Application closed: 7 August 2025, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The Low Carbon Landscapes grant program aims to scale up high quality carbon abatement from the primary industries and land sector, by supporting the development of financially viable projects which can attract investment.
The objectives of the program are to:
- Support a range of ambitious, landscape-scale, high quality carbon abatement projects in the primary industries and land sector through the initial stages of project development, up to the point where they can secure investment
- Develop a range of financially viable models for project delivery
- Increase private sector investment in high quality carbon abatement projects in the primary industries and land sector.
This program is administered by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include:
- farmers or agribusinesses
- Aboriginal landholders or land managers including Traditional Owner groups, land councils or Registered Native Title Body Corporates
- not-for-profit organisations
- government entities, including NSW Government agencies and local government
- natural resource management/conservation organisations
- peak bodies or industry organisations
- producer associations
- co-operative/mutual organisations.
For-profit carbon service providers are not eligible to be applicants.
Types of projects funded under this grant
The Low Carbon Landscapes grant round covers the initial stages of project development for landscape-scale, high quality carbon abatement projects in the primary industries and land sector, up to the point where they can secure investment. This should include a focus on developing a financially viable model for project delivery and identifying suitable sources of private investment to enable on-ground implementation.
This grant round will not fund on-ground implementation of carbon abatement projects or subsequent management or maintenance of these projects.
Carbon abatement activities within the scope of this grant program include:
- increasing carbon storage in vegetation, soils, coastal, or marine areas across all land types
- reducing emissions from livestock, land use, land use change, and forestry.
This grant cannot be used for projects related to:
- energy use and transport-related emissions
- technological carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere and geological storage.
While the focus is on carbon abatement, funded projects must aim to achieve this in a way that delivers co-benefits.
Projects that are within the scope of this grant program and which meet the other criteria described in the Grant Guidelines are eligible for this grant.
What co-contributions are required
Cash and in-kind co-contributions are not required, but are highly recommended as ‘value for money’ is a component of the merit assessment criteria.
Most recent recipients
What was approved
Approved for Australian National University
This project will assess the climate, productivity, circular economy and financial benefits of biochar production and use for orchards and broadacre cropping enterprises in the Riverina and Central West regions of NSW. It aims to demonstrate a clear return on investment for growers and attract private capital aligned with sustainability objectives.
$987,000 was approved by
Executive Director, Climate Change and Sustainability, or Deputy Secretary, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.Date approved
December 2025Location of the project
Darlington Point 2706Location of the recipient
NSWAbout the grant
Applications approved
15
Applications received
35
Low Carbon Landscapes Grant
Program term
30/03/2029What was approved
Approved for Australian Wool Innovation
The project will work with 21 NSW sheep-grazing properties to develop a robust and verifiable process to quantify soil carbon and prove changes over time. It will conduct comprehensive feasibility analysis on participants’ ability to deliver soil carbon projects, with implementation funding to be secured through a wool industry in-setting approach.
$480,120 was approved by
Executive Director, Climate Change and Sustainability, or Deputy Secretary, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.Date approved
December 2025Location of the recipient
Sydney 2000About the grant
Applications approved
15
Applications received
35
Low Carbon Landscapes Grant
Program term
30/03/2029What was approved
Approved for Greening Australia Limited
Greening Australia will work with farmers in the Southern Tablelands to co-design environmental planting projects which benefit biodiversity, soil health, productivity, and resilience. A range of business models will be explored to make the projects financially viable and attractive to farmers and investors.
$498,606 was approved by
Executive Director, Climate Change and Sustainability, or Deputy Secretary, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.Date approved
December 2025Location of the project
Kangiara 2582About the grant
Applications approved
15
Applications received
35
Low Carbon Landscapes Grant
Program term
30/03/2029What was approved
Approved for Holbrook Landcare Group
A farmer-focused approach will be taken to drive adoption of carbon abatement practices which enhance natural capital and build resilience in the farming system, the community, and the region. Farmers will receive customised assessments of the natural capital assets on their farm and be supported to explore viable environmental market opportunities.
$780,803 was approved by
Executive Director, Climate Change and Sustainability, or Deputy Secretary, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.Date approved
December 2025Location of the project
Holbrook 2644Location of the recipient
Holbrook 2644About the grant
Applications approved
15
Applications received
35
Low Carbon Landscapes Grant
Program term
30/03/2029What was approved
Approved for Little River Landcare Group
This project will promote small-scale, economically viable environmental plantings in NSW’s Central Tablelands, demonstrating their integration into mixed farming systems. By targeting high-return areas and layering co-benefits like erosion control and biodiversity, it aims to boost carbon farming adoption through data-driven, farm-level case studies and practical advisory support.
$950,700 was approved by
Executive Director, Climate Change and Sustainability, or Deputy Secretary, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.Date approved
December 2025Location of the project
Yeoval 2868Location of the recipient
Yeoval 2868About the grant
Applications approved
15
Applications received
35
Low Carbon Landscapes Grant
Program term
30/03/2029What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
The application process for the Low Carbon Landscapes grants is competitive. Details on the application and assessment process are provided in the grant guidelines.
Applications must be completed in full and include all the information specified. If you do not provide the specified information in the format required, we may seek additional information or clarification from you. If this information is not provided, your application may be unsuccessful.
Step 1. Confirm that you meet all eligibility requirements prior to applying
Step 2. Review the information in the grant guidelines and on the grant website
Step 3. Fill out the application form in the Grant Management System, and submit it for assessment along with all the required documentation
If you have any questions, please contact the PIPAP Market Development team: pipap.marketdevelopment@environment.nsw.gov.au.
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
Fill out the application form in the Grant Management System, and submit it for assessment along with all the required documentation.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Executive Director, Climate Change and Sustainability, or Deputy Secretary, Energy, Climate Change and Sustainability, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
Your application will first be reviewed against the eligibility criteria. Projects that meet all eligibility requirements will proceed to merit assessment. If your application is deemed ineligible during the eligibility review, you will receive an email.
An assessment panel will review eligible applications against the merit assessment criteria and recommend successful applicants for approval of a grant.
During either the eligibility or merit assessments, we may ask you for more information. You will have 5 business days from the date of our written request to provide a response.
If your application is successful, we will send you a written offer and the Low Carbon Landscapes funding agreement.
If your application is not successful, you will receive an email. Feedback on your application will be available on request.