Zeebra Plains Soil Carbon Project

Zeebra Plains Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located at Gungaloon, approximately 30 kilometres west of Maryborough in the Burnett Mary (Wide Bay-Burnett) region of Queensland. It was registered in May 2022 and covers an area of 118.59 hectares.

Soil carbon sequestration projects under the Measurement of Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems Methodology involve altering farming practices to increase and retain the amount of carbon stored within the soil, which is then physically measured over time. For this project, activities include altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of cattle grazing; re-establishing and rejuvenating pastures by seeding; integrating legume species; and modifying landform features to remediate the land.

The Burnett Mary region is traditionally known for beef cattle grazing, native forestry, and agricultural cropping. The area features a sub-tropical climate, typically receiving moderate to high rainfall between 600mm and 1,100mm annually. The local soils vary widely across the region, consisting of deep red volcanic soils and fertile alluvial flats, alongside more challenging podosols, kandosols, and easily erodible sodic soils.

Interestingly, the project proponents, Christophe and Sylvie Bur, are first-generation cattle farmers who transitioned into the agricultural industry after careers as an engineer and a management consultant in Paris. They operate their 750-hectare commercial cattle property, Zeebra Plains, with a dedicated focus on carbon-neutral and sustainable beef production. In addition to this soil carbon project, Zeebra Plains hosts a registered Avoided Clearing carbon project (ERF166557) and partners with the Queensland Government's Land Restoration Fund. These efforts provide significant environmental co-benefits for the region, including the restoration of koala habitats, wetland ecosystems, and riparian zones to minimize sediment runoff into the Great Barrier Reef. In June 2024, the proponent for this project was formally varied to jointly include Agriprove Solutions Co No.2 Pty Ltd.