Clemons Carbon Project

Clemons Carbon Project is an agricultural soil carbon project located approximately 20km north-west of the township of Temora in the Riverina region of New South Wales. It was registered in December 2020 and covers a project area of 488.80 hectares. The Temora Shire is a predominantly agricultural region, with approximately 93% of the area dedicated to mixed farming, including winter cropping, such as wheat and canola, alongside livestock grazing.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models) Methodology Determination 2021. This methodology allows landholders to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by introducing new land management practices that increase soil carbon storage. To measure this increase, the method requires an initial baseline physical soil sampling, followed by subsequent sampling rounds and hybrid modelling every one to five years to accurately calculate net carbon abatement. The project originally commenced under the 2018 soil carbon method but was updated to the newer 2021 determination via a variation in March 2024.

The local environment around Temora is considered a low to medium rainfall area, experiencing a mean annual rainfall of roughly 520mm. The soil profiles in the district are typically characterised by red chromosols, sodosols, and heavy clay soils, with some red residual volcanic soils present in the eastern parts of the shire.

The Clemons Carbon Project aims to increase soil carbon within the property's agricultural system by re-establishing and rejuvenating pasture via seeding. Furthermore, the project involves strategically altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of livestock grazing to promote better soil vegetation cover and improve overall soil health. As an interesting addition, this project is part of a larger, active portfolio managed by the proponent, Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd, and is contracted to deliver ACCUs to the Australian Government under a Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC808228) originally secured in the April 2016 auction.