Ward Carbon Project

Ward Carbon Project is a soil carbon project located approximately 30km west of Temora in the Riverina region of New South Wales. It was registered in September 2021 and covers a project area of 193.71ha.

Soil carbon projects aim to increase and store additional carbon in agricultural soils by adopting new, eligible land management activities. Under the 2021 "Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models" methodology, standard requirements include preparing a Land Management Strategy (LMS) reviewed by an independent expert, conducting baseline soil sampling, and estimating soil carbon changes through a combination of soil core measurements and modelling. These practices must be maintained throughout the project's nominated permanence period.

The Riverina region is a major agricultural hub known primarily for mixed farming, featuring broadacre winter cropping (such as wheat and canola) alongside sheep grazing. The area is classified as having a semi-arid to temperate climate with moderate, seasonal rainfall. The typical soils in this region include red-brown earths, sandy loams, and clay loams, which are well-suited to carbon sequestration when managed effectively.

To increase carbon in the soil, the project activities involve applying nutrients (in the form of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilisers) to address material soil deficiencies, retaining stubble after a crop is harvested, and converting from intensive tillage to reduced or no-tillage practices. Notably, in October 2023, the project varied its method to transition from the older 2018 measurement-based methodology to the updated 2021 measurement and models methodology, which provides a more flexible framework for estimating sequestration.