First of its kind partnership to generate carbon credits and secure land ownership for Traditional Owners

First of its kind partnership to generate carbon credits and secure land ownership for Traditional Owners

Salubris, a Perth-based environmental company, has partnered with the Marlinyu Ghoorlie (“MG”) peoples of the Goldfields region of Western Australia in an exclusive carbon and biodiversity agreement that seeks to create long term generational wealth for the Traditional Owners.

Highlights

• Exclusive carbon and biodiversity partnership
• MG has a native title claim of over 9 million hectares in the Goldfields region of WA
• Carbon storage and biodiversity value of the Great Western Woodlands will be of national significance
• Expected to deliver significant pricing premiums for carbon credits generated
• Creating large tracts of land 100% owned by MG; backed by an economically sustainable operational model

Salubris and MG will develop carbon credit generating projects on unallocated crown land and ex-pastoral leases within the MG claim area. MG’s native title claim extends over 9 million hectares of land and they are working towards a successful determination of native title in the next couple of years.

The partnership will utilise the newly established diversification lease framework developed by the Western Australian Government – and importantly these new leases will be applied for and held in the name of the MG people, creating large tracts of land 100% owned by MG.

It is a genuine partnership, with economic reward to be split 50/50. Salubris will be responsible for 100% of the financial and technical aspects of the projects while MG will provide experience, environmental knowledge, human resources and cultural authority.

“Salubris has come to us with a new model of partnership that values our native title rights. Returning land to MG people is a key priority of our board and membership,” says Mark Champion, spokesperson for the MG applicant group.

To hear more about the partnership, in the words of the MG peoples:

Under the exclusive agreement, MG and Salubris will develop a pipeline of new carbon abatement and environmental projects on MG traditional lands. The MG claim area encompasses part of the highly biodiverse and environmentally significant Great Western Woodlands – the world’s largest intact Mediterranean climate (low rainfall) woodland which has been heavily impacted in recent times by seasonal fires which has caused significant damage to biodiversity and emitted substantial amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The projects will include the minimisation and management of wildfire, with a focus on the protection of old growth eucalypt forest, the regeneration of former pastoral land through the management of wild cattle and other feral animals, and the maximising biodiversity and caring for country through the establishment of a MG ranger and land management program.

The potential size and scale of the fire management project to protect and enhance the carbon store and biodiversity value of the Great Western Woodlands will be of national significance. Methodologies currently under development by the Australian Clean Energy Regulator are likely to include fire suppression as a methodology for carbon credit generation.

Further strengthening the partnership is the mutual exchange of knowledge about caring for the environment and the MG peoples’ traditional land management experience and techniques will be supported by best practice in environmental science. There is a deep respect for the expertise each partner brings to the project.

Mark Champion notes, “Our people are excited to engage with, and understand more deeply, the carbon and biodiversity opportunities on MG country.”

Brendon Grylls, Director of Salubris, adds, “We are extremely proud to be partnering with the MG in delivering projects that benefit the environment and have substantial social benefits for their community. Importantly, the MG-Salubris partnership ensures that the land secured by MG is backed by an economically sustainable operational model that supports enduring management of the land and environment. It will benefit local communities now and for generations to come.”

These projects are expected to deliver significant pricing premiums for the carbon credits generated. Carbon markets award substantial premiums for ethically generated Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) with added social impact through the co-benefits for Traditional Owners.

The partnership is also set to benefit from the Federal Government’s new Nature Positive legislation, which seeks to establish a market for the monetisation of environmental projects focused on biodiversity benefits.

About Salubris

Salubris is an unlisted public company on track to become one of Australia’s largest independent carbon and environmental credit generators.

Salubris leadership in decarbonisation is driven by its model to originate, acquire and/or develop projects that generate environmental credits principally from nature-enabled carbon abatement. Salubris is approaching decarbonisation by being innovative and risk tolerant; working collaboratively with all stakeholders especially indigenous groups; with the objective of leaving a substantially enhanced environment and social footprint. If necessary, Salubris will disrupt to achieve better outcomes for stakeholders.

Salubris is actively working with Traditional Owner Groups across Western Australia to develop similar partnerships to what it has with Marlinyu Ghoorlie that deliver social and environmental value, while helping Australia reduce its carbon emissions.

Salubris is backed Argonaut and a number of leading executives in the resources,legal and funds management industries.

About Carbon Abatement

Carbon abatement refers to activities that reduce or offset the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, which can be achieved through various methods with Salubris targeting HIR (excluding livestock from land, limiting grazing, managing plant growth, ceasing chemical use etc.) and Blue Carbon (the carbon captured and stored inside coastal ecosystems). Carbon Abatement is a vital part of any strategy aimed at mitigating climate change, given the significant role of human-induced carbon emissions in global warming. Not only does carbon abatement benefit the environment by reducing the impact of climate change, but it also offers potential economic advantages through the generation and trade of carbon credits in regulated markets.