Howe Carbon Project

The Howe Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the locality of Mount Mee, situated on the D'Aguilar Range approximately 60km northwest of Brisbane, Queensland. Registered in July 2023, the project covers a project area of 84 hectares. The region is historically renowned for dairy farming but has largely transitioned to beef cattle grazing and lifestyle farming properties in recent decades.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This framework requires the proponent to implement new or materially different management activities to increase Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) levels. The specific activities for this project include applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies and rejuvenating pastures through seeding. By improving pasture health and increasing biomass production, the project aims to draw more carbon from the atmosphere into the soil profile.

Environmentally, the Mount Mee region is distinct from the surrounding lowlands due to its high altitude and microclimate. It is classified as a high-rainfall zone, receiving an average of approximately 1,500mm annually, which is significantly higher than the nearby Lockyer Valley. The soils in this area are typically red ferrosols (volcanic clays), deep, well-drained, and highly fertile soils derived from ancient basalt flows. These conditions, abundant moisture and fertile volcanic soil, provide an ideal environment for rapid pasture growth and potential soil carbon accumulation.

The project is managed by Agriprove Solutions, a prominent developer in the Australian soil carbon sector. The relatively small size of the project (84 hectares) is typical for the intense, high-production grazing systems found in the Mount Mee area, where high carrying capacities allow for viable carbon farming on smaller land parcels compared to the vast rangelands of the interior.