Rossmore Landscape Project

The Rossmore Landscape Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 5km north of Burren Junction in the North West Slopes and Plains region of New South Wales. Registered in October 2021, the project covers a substantial area of 6,618 hectares. The property, "Rossmore," has been held by the Sendall family for generations and is traditionally associated with mixed farming and livestock grazing.

This project operates under the Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems (2018) methodology. This method credits landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels above a measured baseline. To achieve this, the project proponent, Rossmore Agriculture Pty Ltd, creates a change in land management practices, specifically altering stocking rates and grazing intensity, alongside nutrient management. The goal is to encourage root growth and biomass retention, which pulls carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in the soil profile.

The Burren Junction region is characterized by flat alluvial plains and a semi-arid climate, with an average annual rainfall of approximately 480mm. The soil types in this area are predominantly Vertosols (cracking grey and black clays), which have a high capacity for holding water and nutrients but can be challenging to manage during dry spells. These heavy clay soils are well-suited for soil carbon projects if ground cover is maintained to prevent erosion and desiccation.

An interesting aspect of this project is the proponent's public advocacy for regenerative agriculture. Roger Sendall, a key figure in Rossmore Agriculture, has spoken at regional Landcare events about his transition away from high-input chemical farming toward regenerative grazing to restore soil health. The project is supported by Climate Friendly Pty Ltd, a service provider that assists landholders with the complex compliance and reporting requirements of the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme.