Bokhara Plains Soil Carbon Project

The Bokhara Plains Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located at "Bokhara Plains," a pastoral property approximately 35 kilometers north of Brewarrina in the rangelands of New South Wales. Registered in October 2024, the project initially covered 4,123 hectares, though a variation in September 2025 reduced the project area by removing specific zones. The project is managed by Atlas Agri Solutions (trading as Atlas Carbon) in partnership with proponents Graham and Catherine Finlayson, who are well-recognized figures in the Australian regenerative agriculture community.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology ("Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models"). This method requires landholders to establish a baseline of soil carbon stocks through sampling and then implement new or materially different management activities to sequester additional carbon. In this instance, the project activities focus on altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing. Credits are issued based on the measured increase in soil organic carbon over time, accounting for any emissions generated by the project activities.

The Brewarrina region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 380mm. The landscape at Bokhara Plains consists largely of floodplain country with heavy grey clay soils and significant areas of "claypan", hard-set, scalded soil that historically resists water penetration and vegetation growth. The region is primarily utilized for extensive grazing of sheep and cattle.

A notable aspect of this project is the proponents' long-standing history of landscape rehabilitation. Since acquiring the property in 1999, the Finlaysons have employed "Holistic Management" principles, specifically using high-density cattle grazing to break up capped claypans with hoof impact. This disturbance allows water to infiltrate and dormant seeds to germinate, successfully converting bare scalds into productive native pastures. This existing regenerative approach aligns closely with the project's carbon sequestration goals, aiming to scientifically verify and credit the soil health improvements achieved through these grazing strategies.