Merluna Station

Merluna Station is a Savanna Fire Management project located on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, approximately 120 kilometers southeast of the bauxite mining town of Weipa and 150 kilometers northwest of Coen. Registered in September 2014, the project covers a vast area of approximately 169,639 hectares.

The region is characterized by a tropical monsoonal climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, classifying it as a high rainfall zone for the purpose of the methodology. The landscape consists of tropical savanna woodlands, and the soils in this part of Cape York are predominantly Kandosols (red earths) and Dermosols, which can become dusty during the dry season. The primary land use for Merluna Station is cattle grazing, specifically a breeding enterprise, alongside a station stay tourism business offering accommodation and camping.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology involves conducting strategic, planned burns during the early dry season (cooler months) to reduce the fuel load. This practice creates fire breaks that limit the spread and intensity of late dry season wildfires, which emit significantly more greenhouse gases.

Merluna Station is owned and managed by the MacLean family, who purchased the property in 2004. The carbon project has been instrumental in supporting their transition to a "Grazing Naturally" philosophy, allowing them to eliminate the use of pesticides and herbicides in favor of more organic land management practices. The station also has a rich history, having been formerly known as Pioneer Downs in the late 19th century.