Lazzarini Carbon Project 1

Lazzarini Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 12 kilometers south of Ariah Park and 35 kilometers west of Temora in the Riverina region of New South Wales. Registered on September 21, 2021, the project covers a land area of 454.43 hectares. The project falls within the Temora Shire Council area, a region synonymous with the "wheat-sheep belt" of Australia, characterized by mixed farming operations involving cropping (canola, wheat) and livestock grazing.

This project operates under the Carbon Farming Initiative - Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems methodology. This method generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by measuring increases in soil organic carbon stocks over time. Unlike model-based estimates, this approach requires physical soil sampling to establish a baseline, followed by the implementation of new management activities designed to boost carbon storage. For Lazzarini Carbon Project 1, the specific activities involve altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. This often includes strategies like time-controlled rotational grazing to improve ground cover and soil health.

The environment in the Ariah Park and Temora district is generally classified as temperate with hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. Average annual rainfall is approximately 525mm. The region typically features red-brown earths and sodosols (duplex soils), which are fertile but can be susceptible to structure decline if over-cultivated. By shifting focus to improved grazing management, the project aims to ameliorate soil structure and water retention while sequestering carbon.

The project is developed by AgriProve Solutions, a prominent soil carbon developer in Australia. Around the time of this project's registration in late 2021, AgriProve entered a significant partnership with TotalEnergies to scale soil carbon projects across Australia, aiming to transition extensive hectares of agricultural land into carbon sinks.