Cherry Tree Organics Soil Carbon Project

Cherry Tree Organics Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located at the "Cherry Tree Downs" farm in Tarwin Lower, approximately 165km southeast of Melbourne in the South Gippsland region of Victoria. It was registered in May 2017 and covers an area of 476.41 hectares.

Soil carbon projects under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models methodology involve increasing the amount of organic carbon stored in agricultural soils. Standard requirements involve quantifying these carbon gains via physical soil sampling or approved models over a nominated permanence period, which is 25 years for this specific project.

The South Gippsland area is widely known for its agricultural land use, particularly grazing for organic beef, lamb, and dairy farming. The environment features a temperate oceanic climate with plentiful, high rainfall, and regional soil types commonly include Sodosols, Dermosols, and rich clay loams.

This project increases carbon in the soil by altering grazing patterns, specifically by modifying the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing to promote soil vegetation cover and improve overall soil health. Additional project activities include applying synthetic or non-synthetic nutrients to address material deficiencies and rejuvenating the pasture through seeding or pasture cropping.

Interestingly, proponents Ann and Shane Blundy transitioned the property to organic farming in the early 1990s after Shane noticed the ploughed soil lacked the active microbial and bird life it had during his childhood in the 1960s. In April 2023, the project updated its registry methodology, moving from an older 2014 grazing systems determination to the updated 2021 measurement and models determination to continue accurately reflecting their soil health and carbon sequestration progress.