Desert Bluegrass

Desert Bluegrass is a soil organic carbon sequestration project located in the Barcaldine Region of central Queensland, approximately 45km southwest of the township of Jericho and 55km southeast of Barcaldine. Registered on March 3, 2025, the project covers a land area of roughly 766 hectares. The region is predominantly used for grazing cattle and sheep on native pastures, a land use consistent with the project's activities.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Measurement and Models), which incentivizes land managers to sequester carbon in agricultural soils. The specific activities for Desert Bluegrass involve altering the stocking rate, duration, and intensity of grazing. By optimizing these grazing pressures, the project aims to promote better soil vegetation cover and improve overall soil health, which in turn increases the soil organic carbon stocks over time.

Environmentally, the site is situated within a semi-arid climatic zone characterized by hot summers and mild winters, with an average annual rainfall of approximately 500mm, which is often summer-dominant. The area is likely associated with the Desert Uplands bioregion, typically featuring red earth or sandy loam soils (Kandosols) that support native vegetation such as spinifex and the project's namesake, Desert Bluegrass (Bothriochloa ewartiana). This specific grass species is known for its drought tolerance and palatability to stock, making it an ideal target for regenerative grazing strategies in this environment.

Naturebase Pty Ltd serves as the project proponent. Naturebase appears to be an active developer in the region, managing similar agricultural soil projects (such as the nearby "Wiregrass" project) that focus on leveraging grazing management to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).