Jones Carbon Project 1

Jones Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the Arcadia Valley region of Central Queensland, approximately 60km north-northeast of Injune. Registered in February 2023, the project covers a land area of roughly 325 hectares within the Central Highlands Regional Council area. The surrounding region is renowned for its high-value beef cattle grazing operations, often utilizing the nutrient-rich soils characteristic of the Arcadia Valley.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This method involves establishing a baseline of soil carbon stocks through physical sampling and then implementing new management activities to sequester additional carbon over time. The specific activities for this project involve altering the stocking rate, duration, or intensity of grazing. By optimizing how cattle graze, the project aims to increase vegetation cover and improve soil health, which in turn draws more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the soil profile.

Environmentally, the site is situated in a sub-tropical, semi-arid climate zone with summer-dominant rainfall. The soils in the Arcadia Valley and surrounding Central Highlands are typically fertile cracking clays (Vertosols) and texture-contrast soils, which are highly conducive to supporting vigorous pasture growth when managed effectively. The proponent, Agriprove Solutions, is a major developer in the Australian market, known for utilizing a combination of direct soil measurement and modelling to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). A variation to the project area was recorded in June 2024 to remove specific areas from the project, a common administrative step to excise non-eligible land such as infrastructure or dwellings.