Expanding Australia's Carbon Sequestration Toolkit
When people think of carbon sequestration, images of tree planting typically come to mind.
While reforestation and environmental plantings remain vital tools, Australia's diverse landscapes offer many more innovative opportunities for carbon capture. At Verterra, our ecological engineering approach draws on over 25 years of experience to tailor carbon farming solutions that fit the land, whether it's rangeland soils, shelterbelts in grazing country, or plantation forests.
Our projects combine environmental plantings with soil carbon enhancement, improved pasture management, and integrated forestry. This holistic approach ensures that carbon sequestration is not only effective, but also delivers co-benefits like drought resilience, biodiversity enhancement, and improved production outcomes. As carbon markets mature, participants increasingly seek out these holistic, high-integrity projects that deliver real-world impact.
The Limitations of Conventional Approaches
While single-method carbon projects like blanket tree planting have played a crucial role in kickstarting Australia’s carbon markets, they can face several challenges:
Landscape mismatch: Environmental plantings can be poorly suited to certain areas, especially in low rainfall or heavily grazed landscapes.
Vulnerability to climate and pests: Fire, drought, and pest damage can undermine carbon permanence.
Agricultural trade-offs: Tree planting can limit productive use of prime agricultural land. This might not be an immediate concern but could materialise after the 25-year crediting period of a typical carbon farming project.
Variable carbon persistence: Maintaining vegetation-based carbon stores over decades can be challenging, especially in working landscapes.
Innovative Carbon Sequestration Projects
For example, in our work with a Victorian water corporation, environmental plantings were only recommended in marginal areas, while soil carbon farming and shelterbelts provided better carbon and production outcomes in core grazing areas. This shows how landscape-appropriate, multi-method strategies outperform one-size-fits-all approaches.
Case Study: Integrating Carbon Sequestration with Water Management
In collaboration with a Victorian water corporation, Verterra participated in a consortium to develop a carbon bio-sequestration project tailored to diverse landscapes and operational needs.
The Challenge:
Achieve ambitious carbon abatement targets while maintaining water infrastructure and grazing operations.
Identify the right carbon farming methods for different parts of the property, balancing carbon, biodiversity, and production outcomes.
Our Ecological Engineering Approach:
We designed a multi-faceted strategy that matched each carbon farming method to the local land type:
Shelterbelt planting for wind protection, grazing benefits, and carbon storage.
Block plantings in under-utilised or marginal areas for biodiversity and landscape connectivity.
Soil carbon enhancement through improved grazing management in the most productive paddocks.
Continued plantation forestry in existing forestry areas to maintain and grow carbon stocks.
The Results:
A comprehensive carbon farming plan that supported the water corporation’s sustainability goals.
Enhanced landscape function, biodiversity, and drought resilience.
A replicable model for other water authorities and land managers looking to integrate carbon sequestration into their operations.
“This project shows how a holistic approach, blending plantings, soil carbon farming, and production systems can unlock multiple benefits from carbon sequestration,” said Andrew Yates, Verterra’s EcoSystem Market and Forestry Sector Leader.
Technological Innovations in Carbon Measurement
Effective carbon sequestration projects rely on robust measurement, reporting, and verification systems. Verterra has pioneered innovations in this space, including the use of DROVER mapping services for real-time tracking changes in vegetation cover that can be utilised for soil carbon monitoring.
Benefits of DROVER for Soil Carbon Farming:
Continuous data collection: Real-time monitoring of ground cover allows for dynamic tracking of soil carbon changes.
Cost-effective measurement: Informs predictive modelling, potentially limiting expensive resampling costs.
Adaptive management: Provides land managers with actionable insights to fine-tune grazing and cropping practices for better carbon outcomes.
By integrating DROVER and other emerging technologies, Verterra helps ensure that carbon farming projects are grounded in rigorous science and deliver verified, high-integrity results.