Olkola Ajin - Olkola Fire Project

Olkola Ajin - Olkola Fire Project is a savanna fire management project located in the remote Central Cape York Peninsula of Queensland. Geographically, the project area is situated approximately 150km west of Cooktown and northwest of the township of Laura. Registered in December 2014, the project covers a massive area of approximately 869,909 hectares. The region is primarily defined by Indigenous conservation land use, including the Olkola National Park and Olkola Nature Refuge, as well as pastoral operations such as the Glen Garland station.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology generates carbon credits by shifting the burning regime from the late dry season (LDS) to the early dry season (EDS). By conducting strategic, low-intensity "cool burns" early in the year when vegetation retains moisture, the project proponents reduce the frequency and intensity of destructive, high-emission wildfires that typically occur late in the dry season. This process directly abates the release of methane and nitrous oxide.

Environmentally, the project falls within the high rainfall zone of the tropical savannas, receiving over 1000mm of annual precipitation. The landscape is characterized by open woodlands and grasslands supported by soils that vary across the peninsula, often consisting of sandy loams and lateritic earths. These conditions are critical for the methodology, as the high rainfall creates significant biomass fuel loads that require careful management to prevent catastrophic wildfires.

A notable aspect of the Olkola Ajin project is its deep integration with cultural land management. "Ajin" refers to fire in the local context, and the project supports the protection of the endangered Golden-shouldered Parrot (Alwal), a totem species for the Olkola people, whose habitat relies on specific fire regimes to prevent woody thickening. The project has seen significant administrative evolution, including the completion of a major carbon abatement contract (CAC310857) in 2022 and a transition in late 2022 to sole proponent status for the Olkola Aboriginal Corporation, marking a move toward greater Indigenous independence in managing the project.