Cherry Tree Organics Soil Carbon Project

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

Soil carbon projects under the Measurement and Models methodology involve building soil organic carbon through new or materially altered agricultural practices, and verifying the sequestered carbon via direct soil sampling or modelling.

The South Gippsland area is widely known for its highly productive agricultural land, with the primary land use being livestock grazing for beef and lamb. The area is considered high rainfall, receiving over 40 inches of rain annually, and soils are generally deep loams and clay loams.

This project was set up to increase carbon in the soil within the grazing system by changing grazing patterns. The project is run by Ann and Shane Blundy, whose family farm is one of Australia's earliest organic meat producers. Project activities include altering the stocking rate and grazing duration to promote vegetation cover, applying non-synthetic fertilisers to address material deficiencies, and rejuvenating pastures through seeding. The Blundys practice rotational grazing of their 100% grass-fed livestock to rest the land, encourage deeper root structures, and promote natural microbial diversity. By doing so, the farm has been working towards achieving full carbon neutrality. In April 2023, the project varied its method from the 2014 grazing systems determination to the updated 2021 models and measurement methodology.