Yanawe Soil Carbon Project

The Yanawe Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration initiative located approximately 8km south of Yass in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. Registered in July 2022, the project covers a substantial area of 1,613 hectares within the Yass Valley Council region. The surrounding landscape is renowned for its fine wool production and cattle grazing, alongside a growing reputation for cool-climate vineyards.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology, which rewards landholders for increasing Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) stocks. To achieve this, the proponent, Yanawe Carbon Pty Ltd, working with Climate Friendly Pty Ltd, implements specific land management activities designed to boost soil health. These activities include applying nutrients and lime to correct material deficiencies and acidity, rejuvenating pastures through seeding, and altering grazing intensity to maintain better vegetation cover. The methodology requires rigorous baseline measurement followed by subsequent rounds of sampling or modeling to verify carbon increases over a 25-year permanence period.

Environmentally, the site sits within a temperate climate zone, typically receiving between 650mm and 700mm of rainfall annually. The soils in this region are often characterized as Red and Yellow Chromosols, duplex soils with loamy topsoils overlying clay subsoils, which are well-suited to pasture improvement but can require amelioration for acidity. The project's large scale suggests a significant commitment to regenerative agricultural practices aimed at building resilience against the region's variable climate conditions.