Watson Carbon Project

The Watson Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 15km east of Armidale in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Registered in March 2020, the project encompasses 290 hectares of grazing land. The surrounding Armidale region is widely recognized for its high-quality fine wool and beef cattle production, supported by a cool temperate climate.

The project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models methodology. This approach requires landholders to conduct baseline soil sampling to measure existing carbon stocks, followed by the implementation of new land management activities designed to increase soil carbon levels over time. The project specifically focuses on rejuvenating pastures by transitioning from traditional set stocking to an adaptive rotational grazing system. This involved significant infrastructure upgrades, including the installation of solar-powered water systems and the creation of over 120 flexible grazing subdivisions to improve groundcover and pasture utilization.

Environmentally, the site benefits from the reliable rainfall of the New England Tablelands, which averages around 790mm annually. The local soils are typically derived from basalt and granite, often classified as Chromosols, which are conducive to pasture improvement when managed effectively. A notable achievement for the Watson Carbon Project was becoming one of the first in the New England region to be issued Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) under the 2021 soil carbon method, with 5,585 credits issued following its initial reporting period. The project is a collaboration between landholder Geoff Fox, lessee Mitch Lee, and proponent AgriProve.