Francis Carbon Project (Revoked)

The Francis Carbon Project (Revoked) was a soil carbon sequestration initiative located near Wisemans Creek, approximately 20 kilometers south of Bathurst in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales. Registered in May 2021, the project covered an area of 288 hectares. The project was managed by Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd, a prominent developer in the Australian soil carbon sector.

The project operated under the 2018 Soil Carbon methodology, which rewards farmers for increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) levels through improved management practices. In this specific instance, the project focused on altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. By optimizing how livestock interact with the land, such as through time-controlled rotational grazing, proponents aim to stimulate plant growth and root biomass, which subsequently sequesters atmospheric carbon into the soil profile.

The Wisemans Creek and O'Connell region is characterized by a temperate climate with distinct seasonal changes and moderate rainfall, generally ranging between 650mm and 800mm annually. The landscape typically consists of rolling granite-derived soils and loams, often classified as Chromosols. These soils are widely used for grazing cattle and sheep but can be susceptible to structure decline if over-grazed, making them prime candidates for regenerative soil carbon projects.

On November 20, 2024, the project was revoked under Section 30 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015. This section specifically refers to a "voluntary revocation," indicating that the proponent or landholder chose to withdraw the project from the scheme. This is a common occurrence in the sector and can happen for various reasons, such as the sale of the property, a determination that the project was not economically viable after baseline testing, or a strategic decision to re-register under a newer methodology (like the 2021 Soil Carbon method) which offers different modeling and measurement options.