Merepah Fire Project

Merepah Fire Project is a Savanna Fire Management project located on Merepah Station, a pastoral lease approximately 60km west of Coen in the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. The project was registered in September 2014 and covers a substantial area of roughly 183,569 hectares.

The project operates under the Savanna Fire Management methodology, specifically designed for the high rainfall zone (typically receiving over 1000mm annually). This methodology involves strategic burning during the early dry season (EDS), usually between January and July, when conditions are cooler and vegetation is still moist. These controlled, low-intensity fires create firebreaks that limit the spread of high-intensity, uncontrolled wildfires during the late dry season (LDS). By shifting the burning regime to the early season, the project significantly reduces the release of methane and nitrous oxide, while also protecting biodiversity and cultural sites from the destructive heat of late-season fires.

Situated in the tropical savanna climate of Cape York, the region experiences distinct wet and dry seasons. The landscape consists of vast woodlands and open plains, supported by soils that are predominantly Kandosols (red and yellow earths) and sandy loams, which are characteristic of the Holroyd Plain and surrounding areas.

Merepah Station is owned by the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) and is actively used for cattle grazing. The carbon project runs alongside the cattle operations, managed in partnership with the Moompa-Awu Aboriginal Corporation (MAAC), providing a revenue stream that supports station refurbishment and Indigenous ranger training. Notably, the project previously involved Corporate Carbon Solutions as a participant between 2015 and 2022 before returning to sole management by the ILSC.