Drew Property Pilot Blue Carbon Site, SA

The Drew Property Pilot Blue Carbon Site, SA is a Tidal Restoration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems project located on the coastal flats of the Gulf St Vincent, approximately 8km west of Dublin and 60km north-northwest of Adelaide, South Australia. Registered in July 2024, the project covers roughly 161 hectares of low-lying coastal land. The region is characterized by a mix of dryland grazing and conservation areas, specifically bordering the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park (Winaityinaityi Pangkara), a site of global significance for migratory shorebirds.

The project operates under the "Tidal Restoration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems" methodology, which involves modifying or removing tidal restriction mechanisms, such as bund walls, drains, or floodgates, to reintroduce tidal flows to drained coastal ecosystems. By restoring the natural hydrological regime, the project aims to facilitate the regeneration of coastal wetland vegetation, primarily mangroves and saltmarshes. These "blue carbon" ecosystems are highly effective at sequestering carbon in both their biomass and the underlying soil sediment.

Environmentally, the site sits within a semi-arid Mediterranean climate zone with relatively low rainfall, relying on tidal inundation rather than precipitation to sustain the target vegetation. The soils are typical of the coastal fringe, predominantly saline clays, silts, and marine sediments suitable for supporting halophytic (salt-tolerant) plant communities.

This project appears to be a key component of the broader South Australian Blue Carbon Ecosystem Restoration Project, a pilot initiative supported by The Nature Conservancy and the Australian Government. Being one of the first of its kind in South Australia, it serves as a demonstration site for how private landholders can collaborate with conservation groups to generate carbon credits while restoring critical habitat for marine life and shorebirds.