Forbes Carbon Project

Forbes Carbon Project is a soil organic carbon sequestration project located approximately 8km northwest of Foster in the South Gippsland region of Victoria. It was registered on February 3, 2022, and covers an active area of 190.47 hectares. The South Gippsland region is widely recognized for its high agricultural productivity, with the general land use in the area heavily dominated by dairy farming, beef cattle grazing, and sheep production, alongside some localized forestry operations.

Soil carbon projects aim to increase the amount of organic carbon stored in agricultural soils by implementing new or materially different land management practices. Under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models Methodology Determination 2021, standard requirements include establishing a rigorous baseline through core soil sampling, undertaking eligible management activities, and periodically re-measuring the soil (or using approved models) to accurately quantify carbon increases while deducting any project-related emissions. For this specific project, the management activities include applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material soil deficiencies, re-establishing or rejuvenating pastures through seeding, and deliberately altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing to promote vegetative cover and improve overall soil health.

The local environment is highly conducive to these activities. South Gippsland is classified as a high rainfall zone, typically receiving between 900mm and 1100mm of rain annually. The regional soils are generally fertile grey-brown loams and heavy clay loams. These optimal environmental conditions allow pastures to thrive and develop deep root systems, which is essential for effectively drawing down and trapping carbon within the soil profile.

An interesting note is that the project is facilitated by Agriprove Solutions Pty Ltd, a leading Australian agricultural technology company that specializes in helping landholders access the carbon market. Their involvement typically signifies a strong data-driven approach to monitoring soil health. The project operates under a standard 25-year crediting period, providing the landholder with the dual benefit of generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) while simultaneously enhancing the long-term resilience and productivity of their pastures.