Bibbaringa Soil Carbon Project

Bibbaringa Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration initiative located in the Bowna district, approximately 35km northeast of Albury in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales. Registered in August 2024, the project covers 953 hectares of undulate grazing country. The property is situated within the Greater Hume Shire and is primarily dedicated to beef cattle trading and agistment.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon "Measurement and Models" methodology. This framework requires baselining soil carbon levels through physical sampling, implementing "new" management activities to drive sequestration, and subsequently measuring increases over time. The specific activity registered for this project involves applying nutrients (synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers) to address material soil deficiencies. This amendment strategy is often used in conjunction with grazing management to overcome chemical barriers, such as acidity or nutrient lock-up, that limit plant growth and root biomass production, which are essential for building soil carbon.

Environmentally, the region typically receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 700mm, although it is subject to high variability. The landscape features granitic soils which were historically described as degraded and low in organic matter. However, the property has undergone significant restoration since 2007, reportedly increasing soil carbon levels from 1% to over 3% in some areas through prior regenerative efforts.

The property is owned by Gillian Sanbrook, a prominent figure in the Australian regenerative agriculture sector. Bibbaringa is distinct for its integration of "Earth Canvas," a project connecting artists with farmers to visualize landscape health, and for its application of Natural Sequence Farming principles, such as "leaky weirs," to rehydrate the landscape. The farm utilizes holistic planned grazing to manage ground cover and support biodiversity.