Latham Carbon Project

The Latham Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located near the locality of Fosterton, approximately 10 kilometers north of Dungog in the Hunter Region of New South Wales. Registered in December 2020, the project covers a project area of roughly 77 hectares. The surrounding Dungog Shire is a well-established agricultural hub, predominantly utilised for beef cattle and dairy grazing, alongside timber forestry in the steeper hinterlands.

This project operates under the Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems (2018) methodology. This method credits farmers for measured increases in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks resulting from changes in land management. In this specific instance, the project activities focus on re-establishing or rejuvenating pastures through seeding. By introducing new pasture species, the project aims to improve root density and depth, thereby increasing the drawdown of atmospheric carbon into the soil profile.

Environmentally, the Dungog region is characterised as a high-rainfall zone, typically receiving between 900mm and 1100mm annually, which is conducive to rapid pasture growth and potential soil carbon accumulation. The local terrain generally consists of rolling hills and river valleys. Soil types in this area often include Kurosols (acidic, texture-contrast soils) on the slopes and fertile alluvial loams and clays along the creek flats, such as those found near Fosterton and Main Creek.