Case Studies

Tropical savannas across northern Australia are some of the most intact and biodiverse landscapes in Australia, encompassing areas of significant global biodiversity. Within its 145,570 hectares, Southwell Station holds 32 hectares of threatened regional ecosystems – home to one Federally listed and two State listed threatened fauna species, and one State listed threatened flora species.

In 2019, when Marc and Jo Griffiths took over Noona Station in Cobar, New South Wales, it already had an established carbon project. At the time, the pair had little knowledge of carbon farming and sequestration but they came in with open minds.

Andrew and Tayna Greensheilds don’t regard the changes they had to make to incorporate a carbon project into their enterprise as significant, but they do think it made them examine their land management much more closely.

Situated north-west of Bourke, New South Wales, Maureenjoy is home to a successful family-run cattle grazing business. As is characteristic of the Mulga Lands Bioregion, the land at Maureenjoy consists of undulating soft red loamy soils and stony Mulga ridges. When the current landholders took over in 2008, it was overrun with feral goats, placing significant grazing pressure on the native vegetation and suppressing its growth.

Craig and Ruth Wagner along with their son Bryan, previously relied on an historic clearing cycle to manage their cattle grazing and timber harvesting operation at Ivanhoe but by choosing to step away from this cycle and allow native vegetation to regenerate under a carbon project, the Wagners are finding a balance between agricultural production and ecosystem services that benefits both the land and their livelihoods.

For Christine Ferguson, the landholder of Myrnong near Bourke in New South Wales, the biggest benefit of running a carbon project has been income diversification. The additional revenue created by the project allows for more flexibility, reducing reliance on stock and even enabling her to remove stock when needed during dry spells.

Partnering with GreenCollar in 2015, the Leigo family began a carbon project focused on carefully managing domestic livestock to reduce total grazing pressure and enable previously suppressed native vegetation to regenerate. According to the Leigos, “Carbon farming under the Human Induced Regeneration model has transformed the way our business operates for the better. The grazing management required for our carbon project supports our livestock grazing business. It’s not a case of either carbon or livestock – they work hand in hand.”

As established farmers in the Western Division on NSW, Terry and Denise Dunne say that carbon farming has been a fantastic boost for the region, only wishing that it had come in earlier.

Glenrose lies east of Cobar in Western New South Wales. Back in 2008, Geoff and Julie Cowen got a permit to clear the property for grazing, but when they got to work, they found themselves stuck in an endless cycle of vegetation clearing and regrowth which was increasingly hard to manage. And despite the clearing for pasture, they were still having to bring in feed. “It just wasn’t a viable living,” says Geoff.