Cairns Carbon Farming Project

The Cairns Carbon Farming Project is a native forest regeneration project located in the Murweh Shire of southern Queensland, approximately 75 kilometers west-northwest of Charleville. It is crucial to note that despite its name, the project is not located near the city of Cairns in Far North Queensland; rather, it is situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area heavily characterized by pastoral leases and cattle grazing. The project was registered on January 7, 2015, and covers a project area of approximately 1,949 hectares.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Native Forest from Managed Regrowth) Methodology Determination 2013. This specific methodology is designed for land that was historically cleared for pastoral use but retains the potential to regenerate into native forest. Unlike tree planting projects, this method relies on assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstocks and lignotubers. The primary activity involves the cessation of mechanical or chemical suppression of regrowth, effectively allowing the landscape to return to a forest cover status while sequestering carbon.

Environmentally, the region is classified as semi-arid, receiving variable rainfall that supports vegetation types such as Mulga (Acacia aneura) and poplar box woodlands. The soils in this vicinity are typically red earths or sandy loams, which are well-suited to the resilient native species targeted for regeneration. The project proponent, Devine Agribusiness Carbon Pty Ltd, is a notable entity in the sector and was acquired by the major environmental markets investor GreenCollar in July 2021. This acquisition highlights the project's integration into a broader portfolio of grazing-compatible carbon farming initiatives in Queensland.