Our Approach To Land Management Strategies
A Land Management Strategy (LMS) is a required component of every soil carbon project. It documents how landholders will improve their land in a way that leads to measurable increases in soil organic carbon — and ensures these changes are eligible under the carbon method.
But here's the problem: many developers treat the LMS as a box-ticking exercise. They offer standard templates, fixed input regimes, and top-down prescriptions that force farmers into systems that don’t fit.
At Carbon Sync, we do it differently.
We co-design each LMS alongside the landholder — mapping constraints, sequencing improvements, and designing around existing operations. We don’t lock people into inputs or contracts that serve someone else’s bottom line.
Instead, we build autonomy into the design, so the system works for the farmer first — and the carbon follows.
The Co-Design Process, Step-By-Step
Starting at your kitchen table, and continuing in the paddock
1
Mapping Land Constraints & Opportunities
We identify soil types, rainfall zones, landscape features, and degradation risks to guide interventions that match your land’s specific context. We know who the real expert is when it comes to your farm. So, we don’t just rely on data, we seek to understand your farm, from YOUR perspective.
2
Baseline Management Analysis
We start by understanding what you’re already doing — and what’s already working. This isn’t just about ticking a compliance box. It’s about recognising the systems you’ve built, the adaptations you’ve made, and the realities you manage every season.
3
Designing Eligible Management Activities
From what’s already working, we design the next steps — practical, eligible changes that suit your land and your system, grounded in science. Whether it’s adaptive grazing or pasture renewal, nothing is added unless it fits. This isn’t a prescription. It’s a plan that works because it’s yours.
4
Defining Carbon Estimation Areas
CEAs are where the change happens — and where carbon is measured. We map them based on how land is currently managed, what’s planned, and where soil carbon and restoration gains are most likely. We don’t treat every hectare the same — we focus effort where the land, management, and timing align.
5
Implementation & Timing Plan
Good ideas mean nothing if they land at the wrong time. That’s why we work with your cropping and grazing calendar to sequence changes — and build in flexibility to adapt as conditions shift. The timetable isn’t fixed; it gives you structure with room to move. Because timing matters — but so does the freedom to get it right.
6
Risk & Method Alignment
Every strategy is tested for fit — not just on the land, but under the rules. We assess the risks of each proposed change and make sure they’re technically eligible under the carbon method. That means your LMS isn’t just a good idea — it’s a defensible one. Built to work on the ground, and hold up under scrutiny.
7
Final Review & Landholder Sign-Off
Before anything is submitted, you get the final say. We walk through the strategy together to make sure it reflects your goals, your land, and your way of farming. Nothing goes forward until you’re confident. The LMS is a formal part of your carbon project — but it’s also a living document.
It’s built to adapt with your operation over time, not to restrict it.
FAQ’s
(Farmers Ask Questions - About the LMS)
Will this lock me into something I can’t change later?
No. The LMS provides structure, not a straitjacket. It’s designed to adapt as your operation changes — next season, next enterprise, or next generation. Flexibility is built in, because we don’t just plan for today. We plan for tomorrow, and 25 years from now. The last thing we want is for a carbon project to restrict your future. Ever.
Do I have to buy a product to make this work?
No. We don’t sell products. We don’t build strategies around inputs. Your LMS is built around your land, your goals, and your system — not someone else’s sales model.
Who decides what goes into the strategy — me or you?
You do. We co-design the LMS with you. Our role is to guide, not impose. You know your farm better than anyone — and the strategy should reflect that.
We bring depth behind the scenes — tapping into our network of agronomists, researchers, and industry partners. Trusted relationships that keep your plan grounded and backed by real-world experience.
Will I have to change things that are already working?
Absolutely not. We start by understanding what already works — and we build forward from there. Change only happens where it adds value.
Are you going to ask me to completely change how I farm?
No. We’re not here to flip your system upside down. Most strategies build on what you’re already doing — and we only suggest changes that make sense for your operation.
If something isn’t practical, affordable, or aligned with your goals, it doesn’t go in. This is about improving your land, not disrupting your business.
Is this just for compliance, or will it actually help my farm?
It does both. The LMS satisfies the carbon method requirements — but it's also a working strategy, built around your operation. It’s there to support better decisions, reduce risk, increase resilience, and improve how your land performs over time.
Do you replace my agronomist?
Not at all. We’re here to work with them, not instead of them. If you have an agronomist you trust, we bring them into the process. They know your system — and their insight helps make the strategy stronger. This is a team effort, and you're the one who decides who's on it.
