Dawson Carbon Project

The Dawson Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration initiative located in the Sarina Range, approximately 25 kilometers southwest of the town of Sarina in Queensland. Registered in August 2020, the project covers a project area of roughly 320 hectares in the Blue Mountain/Colston Park locality. The region is predominantly utilized for cattle grazing and is situated within the Mackay Regional Council area, distinct from the central Queensland "Dawson Valley" despite the project's name.

Operated under the 2018 Soil Carbon methodology, this project aims to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by increasing soil organic carbon levels. The standard requirements for this method involve rigorous baseline soil sampling followed by a change in land management practices. In this specific case, the project activities focus on altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. This approach, often aligned with regenerative agriculture principles, encourages pasture growth and root development to lock carbon into the soil profile.

The project is situated in a high-rainfall coastal hinterland environment. The Sarina Range is known for its wet, sub-tropical climate, often receiving significantly higher rainfall than the inland grazing plains. The terrain in this area generally supports fertile soil types such as Ferrosols or Dermosols, which are characteristic of the volcanic and coastal ranges in this part of Queensland. These conditions, reliable moisture and responsive soils, are generally considered favorable for soil carbon projects, as they support the biomass production necessary to generate soil organic matter.

The project is managed by Agriprove Solutions, a prominent developer in the Australian soil carbon sector known for their "soiltech" approach to measurement. The Dawson Carbon Project is currently in its active reporting phase, with a nominated permanence period of 25 years, ensuring the carbon remains stored in the landscape for the long term.