Albeni Soil Carbon Project

The Albeni Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration initiative located in the Central Highlands region of Queensland, approximately 140km west of Springsure and 90km northeast of Tambo. Registered in August 2025, the project covers a substantial area of 16,283 hectares. The property, "Albeni," is a well-established grazing operation run by the McDonald family, who have a long history of cattle and sheep farming in the district.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models). This method credits landholders for increases in soil organic carbon stocks resulting from new or materially different management activities. For Albeni, the primary activity involves altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing. This aligns with the proponent's long-term adoption of time-controlled rotational grazing, a practice designed to improve ground cover, minimize soil erosion, and enhance water infiltration in the region's cracking clay (Brigalow) and ironbark forest soils.

Situated in a semi-arid environment with highly variable rainfall, the project emphasizes water management as a critical component of its carbon strategy. The proponents have implemented "spreader banks" to distribute overflow from dams across paddocks, increasing soil moisture retention to support pasture growth and carbon drawdown. Notably, the project has been supported by a CommBank Agri Green Loan and works with Carbon Link, a service provider specializing in soil carbon measurement for large-scale grazing properties. The McDonald family are recognized innovators in the sector, having transitioned to organic certification and regenerative practices over a decade prior to the project's registration.