Blakely Carbon Project

Blakely Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 12 kilometers northwest of the major town of Cowra, within the Central West region of New South Wales. Registered in February 2021, the project covers 305.31 hectares of agricultural land in the Cowra Shire Council area. The site is situated near the locality of Wattamondara, a region traditionally supporting mixed farming operations including sheep and cattle grazing, as well as cropping.

The project operates under the 2018 Soil Carbon methodology, which credits landholders for measured increases in soil organic carbon (SOC). To achieve this, the project involves implementing new land management activities designed to sequester carbon, specifically altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. Under this method, the proponent must conduct baseline soil sampling and subsequent rounds of sampling to verify carbon increases over time, generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) for the verified gains.

Environmentally, the Cowra region is characterized by a Mediterranean-like climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 625mm, distributed relatively evenly throughout the year but often favoring winter/spring. The landscape typically features red-brown earths (Chromosols) and Dermosols derived from granite and sedimentary rocks. These soils are generally productive but can be susceptible to acidity and structure decline, making them suitable candidates for regenerative grazing practices aimed at improving soil health and carbon retention.

The project is managed by Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd, a prominent corporate carbon developer in Australia specializing in soil carbon projects. By focusing on grazing management, the project aims to improve ground cover and soil structure, which not only sequesters carbon but also enhances the land's resilience to drought, a critical factor in the Central West NSW farming system.