Catchment Conservation Alliance Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site 14

Catchment Conservation Alliance Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site 14 is an avoided clearing project located at Ivanhoe Station, situated near the Boondooma Dam and approximately 30km northwest of Murgon in the South Burnett region of Queensland. It was registered in November 2020 and covers 2096.22 ha.

Avoided clearing of native regrowth projects avoid greenhouse gas emissions by protecting native forest from being cleared on land where a legal right to clear exists and historical clearing has occurred.

The South Burnett region is well known for cattle grazing, timber harvesting, and agricultural operations. The area is considered to have medium to high sub-tropical rainfall, and soils in the surrounding region are generally a mix of sandy loams, duplex soils, and clays.

This project was established by the Wagner family to find a balance between agricultural production and environmental conservation. By stepping away from their historic clearing cycle, the family uses carbon project income to upgrade farm infrastructure and restrict livestock access to stream banks and riparian zones. This effectively reduces sediment flow into the Boondooma Dam, which eventually feeds into the Burnett River and ultimately the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Furthermore, the project protects habitat for threatened species such as koalas and creates vital wildlife corridors connecting the property to the nearby Allies Creek State Forest, Barakula State Forest, and Beeron National Park.