Southwell Station

Southwell Station is a Savanna Fire Management project located on the remote western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, approximately 200km east of the community of Pormpuraaw. Registered in July 2014, the project covers a massive 145,914 hectares. The station is a pastoral lease primarily used for cattle grazing, having been owned by the Price family since 1985. The region is characterized by its isolation, accessible primarily by 4WD or light aircraft, with an airstrip that services the property during the wet season.

The project operates under the Savanna Fire Management methodology, specifically focusing on emissions abatement in the high rainfall zone. This involves conducting strategic, planned burns during the early dry season (cool burns) to reduce the fuel load. By doing so, the project mitigates the risk and intensity of uncontrollable late dry season wildfires, which release significantly more greenhouse gases (methane and nitrous oxide). This "patchwork" burning strategy also benefits local biodiversity by creating fire breaks and preserving habitat for threatened species found on the station.

Environmentally, the region falls within the high rainfall tropical savanna zone, experiencing distinct wet and dry seasons. The property reportedly receives heavy monsoonal rains, sometimes exceeding a metre in the wet season. The landscape features extensive river systems, including the Holroyd and Edward rivers, and is supported by soils typical of the Cape York Peninsula, predominantly Kandosols (red and yellow earths) and Hydrosols in lower-lying drainage areas.

An interesting facet of this project is its integration with the station's daily life; revenue from carbon credits helps fund the management of fire risks, weeds, and feral animals, directly supporting the pastoral operations. The station is also known for its rich biodiversity, hosting threatened regional ecosystems and providing opportunities for remote tourism activities like fishing and hunting.