Mainoru Savanna Burning Project

The Mainoru Savanna Burning Project is an emissions avoidance project located at Mainoru Station, approximately 250km northeast of Katherine in the Northern Territory. Registered in September 2015, the project covers a vast area of approximately 132,311 hectares within the Roper Gulf region. The station itself is a well-known stopover on the Central Arnhem Road, functioning primarily as a cattle and buffalo grazing property that also offers tourism and accommodation services.

This project operates under the Savanna Fire Management methodology (2015 determination). This method involves conducting strategic, planned burns during the early dry season (typically January to July) when conditions are cooler and vegetation is still moist. These "cool burns" create fire breaks and reduce the fuel load, significantly lowering the risk and intensity of uncontrolled wildfires during the late dry season. By preventing these intense, high-emission wildfires, the project generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) based on the emissions avoided compared to a historical baseline.

The Mainoru region is characterized by a tropical savanna climate that transitions between the high rainfall zone (receiving over 1000mm annually) and the low rainfall zone (600mm–1000mm). The project activities explicitly cover both zones, requiring careful management of the distinct vegetation types found in each. The landscape features the Mainoru River and is comprised of open woodland and native pastures, supported by soils that range from sandy loams to alluvial deposits near the watercourses.

An interesting aspect of this project is its integration with the station's broader land management strategy. The proponents, Hayes Enterprises (NT) Pty Ltd, have highlighted in public interviews the challenges of managing native vegetation and weeds in the Territory. The carbon project serves a dual purpose: earning carbon credits while simultaneously protecting the station's cattle pastures and local biodiversity from the devastation of late-season wildfires.