Howson Carbon Project 13

Howson Carbon Project 13 is a soil carbon sequestration project located approximately 20km southwest of Theodore in the Banana Shire of Central Queensland. Registered in March 2022, the project covers 308.66 hectares and is part of a larger aggregation of soil carbon projects operated by the Gunthorpe family on their "Tarramba" property. The region is a significant hub for beef cattle grazing and dryland cropping, characterised by the fertile plains of the Dawson Valley.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This method allows landholders to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) levels through changes in land management. Unlike older methods relying solely on direct sampling, the 2021 determination permits a hybrid approach using physical soil core measurements combined with predictive modeling to estimate carbon stocks over time.

Environmentally, the Theodore region experiences a semi-arid to sub-tropical climate with summer-dominant rainfall averaging approximately 670mm to 730mm annually. The landscape typically features Brigalow belt soils, predominantly Vertosols (cracking clays) and texture-contrast soils, which are highly responsive to regenerative grazing practices. The project activities include re-establishing pastures with multi-species seeding and implementing intensive rotational grazing strategies. By subdividing paddocks and improving water infrastructure, the proponents aim to increase stock density while allowing longer rest periods for pastures to recover, thereby driving root growth and carbon storage.

An interesting facet of the wider Howson Carbon Project is its status as a "Producer Demonstration Site" for Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). The property serves as a case study for the red meat industry's Carbon Neutral 2030 (CN30) target, providing data on how soil carbon projects can coexist with high-productivity cattle enterprises. Reports indicate the proponents have successfully increased stocking rates significantly in improved areas while generating carbon credits.