Coonan Carbon Project 1

Coonan Carbon Project 1 is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the locality of Ryanston, approximately 13 kilometers northeast of Wonthaggi in the Gippsland region of Victoria. Registered on September 2, 2024, the project covers a specific area of 52.66 hectares. The surrounding South Gippsland region is widely recognized as prime agricultural land, predominantly utilized for dairy farming and beef cattle grazing due to its reliable climate.

This project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models (2021) methodology. This method credits landholders for increasing soil organic carbon levels through changes in land management. To earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the project must demonstrate a measurable increase in soil carbon relative to a baseline, maintained over a permanence period of either 25 or 100 years.

The environment in this part of South Gippsland is characterized by a high rainfall classification, typically receiving between 900mm and 1000mm annually. The local soil profiles are generally comprised of Grey or Brown Dermosols (loams over clay) and Kurosols, which are naturally productive but can be acidic and prone to nutrient leaching in high rainfall zones.

A key activity for this project involves applying nutrients in the form of synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address material soil deficiencies. By correcting these nutrient gaps, the project aims to boost pasture growth and root biomass, thereby increasing the rate at which carbon is sequestered into the soil. The project is managed by Agriprove Solutions, a leading developer in the Australian soil carbon sector.