Bukulla Soil Carbon Project

The Bukulla Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration initiative located approximately 25 kilometers northwest of Collarenebri in the Walgett Shire of northern New South Wales. Registered in November 2024, the project is managed by proponent James Muscat with assistance from Natural Capital Co Pty Ltd. Although there is a locality named Bukulla near Inverell, this project is situated on the heavy clay floodplains characteristic of the Walgett region.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Measurement and Models), which credits landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels relative to a measured baseline. This particular method allows for a hybrid approach where physical soil sampling is combined with modeled estimates to calculate carbon abatement over time. To achieve these gains, the project has outlined a strategy involving the alteration of stocking rates to improve soil health, the use of legume species in pasture systems, and the rejuvenation of pastures through seeding or cropping.

The Collarenebri region is defined by a semi-arid climate with a historical average rainfall of approximately 500mm, though this can vary significantly between years. The landscape is dominated by the "black soil plains" of the Upper Darling, consisting largely of fertile but difficult-to-manage grey and brown Vertosols (cracking clays). These soils have a high capacity for holding water and carbon, making them suitable targets for sequestration activities when managed with regenerative grazing and cover cropping techniques.