Claravale Fire Project

Claravale Fire Project is a Savanna Fire Management project located at Claravale Station, approximately 90km north of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The project was registered in November 2016 and covers a substantial area of 67,181 hectares within the Daly River catchment.

The region is primarily used for pastoral activities, specifically cattle breeding, with Claravale Station historically known for running Brahman cattle. Recently, the area has also seen development in dryland cropping and cotton. The environment is classified as a high rainfall zone, receiving an average of roughly 1,100mm annually, driven by the tropical monsoonal climate of the Top End. The landscape features deep red earths (Kandosols) and river alluvial soils, supporting open eucalypt woodlands and grassy understoreys typical of the Daly Basin.

The project operates under the 2015 Savanna Fire Management methodology. This method involves strategic, planned burning during the early dry season (cooler months) to reduce the fuel load. By doing so, the project aims to minimize the frequency and intensity of late dry season wildfires, which emit significantly higher levels of greenhouse gases.

An interesting note about the property is its strategic position fronting the Daly and Fergusson Rivers, which provides critical water access for its agricultural operations. While the carbon project focuses on fire management, the station itself has recently undergone significant infrastructure improvements and changed ownership in 2021, highlighting the evolving land management practices in the region.