Gunningham Family Farms Soil Carbon Project

Gunningham Family Farms Soil Carbon Project is a soil carbon sequestration project located in the locality of Montumana, approximately 25 kilometers southeast of the town of Smithton in North West Tasmania. Registered on March 26, 2025, the project covers a substantial area of 1,138.73 hectares. The property sits on the edge of the Tarkine wilderness, a region renowned for its rich agricultural potential and significant rainfall.

The project operates under the Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration using Measurement and Models Methodology Determination 2021. This high-integrity methodology requires the proponent to establish a baseline of soil carbon levels through physical sampling. Subsequently, land management activities, in this case, re-establishing or rejuvenating pastures via seeding and pasture cropping, are implemented to sequester atmospheric carbon into the soil. Future carbon stocks are then estimated using a hybrid approach of physical measurement and CSIRO-developed soil models to calculate the number of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated.

The North West region of Tasmania is characterized by a cool-temperate climate with reliable, high rainfall, often exceeding 1,000mm annually in this specific belt. The landscape is dominated by rolling hills featuring fertile Red Ferrosols (krasnozems), deep, well-drained volcanic clay soils derived from basalt. These heavy red soils are highly prized for intensive grazing and dairy operations, which aligns with the land use of Gunningham Family Farms.

Gunningham Family Farms, established by Matthew Gunningham and Pippa Gunningham in 2001, is a prominent organic dairy and beef operation. The farm runs Jersey-Friesian cross dairy cows and Angus beef cattle, adhering to strict "Animal Welfare Approved" and "Certified Grassfed" standards. Interestingly, the project is supported by independent agribusiness consultant Sam Bye, who specializes in carbon farming strategy for Tasmanian producers. Beyond this soil project, the family is also known for extensive environmental stewardship, including planting over 40,000 trees on their properties to support biodiversity and shelter livestock.