Daly Carbon Project

The Daly Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, approximately 30 kilometers north of Bathurst. Registered in September 2021, the project encompasses 671.84 hectares within the Bathurst Regional Council area. The region is characterized by undulating terrain primarily utilized for livestock grazing, with land use dominated by cattle and sheep farming on native and improved pastures.

This project operates under the Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems (2018) methodology. This method requires the proponent to demonstrate a physical increase in Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) levels over time compared to a baseline measurement taken at the start of the project. To achieve this, the project involves implementing new management activities designed to increase biomass and soil health. Specifically, the Daly Carbon Project focuses on altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. By optimizing grazing pressure (often through rotational or time-controlled grazing), the project aims to stimulate root growth and deposit more carbon into the soil profile.

The environmental conditions in this part of the Central Tablelands are generally favorable for soil carbon projects. The area typically experiences a temperate climate with moderate rainfall, averaging between 650mm and 800mm annually (influenced by the higher elevation north of Bathurst towards Hargraves). The soil types in the region are variable, often consisting of Chromosols (texture-contrast soils) and loams derived from the local metamorphic and granitic geology. These soils generally respond well to regenerative grazing practices, allowing for improved water retention and pasture productivity alongside the generation of carbon credits. The proponent, AgriProve Solutions, is Australia's largest soil carbon developer and typically emphasizes the co-benefits of these projects, such as increased farm resilience to drought.