Young Carbon Project 1

Young Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon sequestration project located near the rural locality of Woolooga, approximately 45km northwest of Gympie in the Wide Bay-Burnett region of Queensland. Registered in December 2022, the project covers a land area of 503.82 hectares. The surrounding region is predominantly utilized for beef cattle grazing and fattening, characterized by a sub-coastal climate that typically receives moderate to high rainfall (averaging over 800mm annually). The landscape in this area generally features a mix of alluvial sandy loams on lower terraces and darker friable earths or podzolic clays on higher ground, which are well-suited to pasture improvement activities.

The project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models (2021) methodology. This method requires the project proponent to conduct baseline soil sampling (typically to a depth of one meter) to establish current carbon stocks. Following this, a new land management activity must be implemented to encourage carbon sequestration. For Young Carbon Project 1, the specific activity involves altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. By optimizing grazing pressure, often through time-controlled or rotational grazing, the project aims to increase vegetative ground cover and root biomass, which in turn draws more carbon into the soil profile.

The proponent, Agriprove Solutions Co No.2 Pty Ltd, is a special purpose vehicle managed by Agriprove, Australia’s largest soil carbon project developer. Agriprove projects typically utilize a hybrid approach of physical soil measurement and modeling to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) over a 25-year crediting period. The project is designed to improve soil health and farm productivity while generating a tradable carbon asset for the landholder.