Russell Carbon Project

The Russell Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Gippsland region of Victoria, situated approximately 20km southeast of the major regional center of Traralgon. The project falls near the locality of Flynn or Gormandale, an area characterized by a mix of agricultural grazing land and plantation forestry. Registered on March 1, 2021, the project covers a total area of 391.28 hectares.

Operating under the Carbon Farming Initiative-Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems methodology (2018), this project generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by sequestering carbon in the soil. This specific method requires landholders to switch from measuring emissions to measuring carbon storage; it involves establishing a baseline via physical soil core sampling and implementing new management activities, such as the altered stocking rates and grazing intensity utilized here, to increase soil organic carbon levels over time. Credits are issued based on the measured increase in carbon stocks relative to the baseline.

The project is situated in a temperate climate zone known for reliable rainfall, typically averaging between 700mm and 800mm annually, which is conducive to year-round pasture growth. The soils in this transition zone between the Latrobe Valley and the Strzelecki Ranges are generally acidic texture-contrast soils, ranging from sandy loams near the Holey Plains to heavier clay loams in the valley floors. The project is managed by Agriprove Solutions, a prominent soil carbon project developer in Australia known for utilizing soil technology and remote sensing to streamline the baselining and verification process for graziers.