Watson Carbon Project

Watson Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 15km east of Armidale in the New England region of northern NSW. It was registered in March 2020 and covers an area of 290.63 hectares.

Soil carbon projects under the estimation using measurement and models methodology involve making specific agricultural management changes, such as altering grazing intensity and rejuvenating pastures, to build soil organic carbon. This process requires establishing a measured baseline and subsequently demonstrating carbon sequestration through further sampling or modelling over the crediting period to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

The Armidale area in the Northern Tablelands is well known for grazing and livestock farming. It features a cool temperate climate that experiences moderate to high rainfall, averaging around 760mm annually. The soils in this region vary but are typically a mix of fertile basalt-derived soils, commonly known locally as "trap soils," as well as granitic sandy loams and podzolics.

This project was established by landholder Geoff Fox and lessee Mitch Lee, who partnered with project developer AgriProve. To build soil carbon, they transitioned the property from traditional set stocking to an adaptive rotational grazing system. The 300-hectare property was subdivided into over 120 flexible grazing paddocks, supported by new solar-powered water infrastructure and additional troughs. These management changes successfully shifted their cost structure by reducing the need to hand-feed cattle over winter. The Watson Carbon Project was issued 5,585 ACCUs, marking a milestone as one of the first soil carbon projects in the New England region to generate credits under the 2021 method.