Maranoa Ecosystem Conservation Project #2

Maranoa Ecosystem Conservation Project #2 is an Avoided Clearing of Native Regrowth project located at Abbieglassie station, approximately 110km south of Mitchell in the Maranoa region of Queensland. It was registered in April 2016 and covers 5,514.88 ha.

Avoided clearing projects avoid greenhouse gas emissions by protecting native forest that has historically been subject to clearing and is legally permitted to be cleared under a valid clearing consent. Standard requirements involve maintaining the protected vegetation for the project's permanence period, which prohibits mechanical clearing and requires the management of livestock grazing and fire to ensure the forest achieves or maintains native forest cover.

The Maranoa region is known for extensive sheep and beef cattle grazing operations. The area is considered a semi-arid climate with typical annual rainfall of around 560mm. The local environment features mulga country alongside box flats and watercourses like Wallum Creek, with soils that are generally red earths, clay loams, and sandy loams typical of the mulga lands.

This project, managed by proponent Terra Carbon Pty Limited, importantly coincided with the start of a severe regional drought in 2016. The carbon project was set up to provide a drought-proof income stream that allowed the landholders to pay bills and upgrade infrastructure, such as grading firebreaks using local labour, without needing to over-graze the land. Because the property was rested during the dry spell, the subsequent breaking of the drought led to excellent native regeneration, improved grass coverage for better water retention, and the return of native wildlife to the property.