Newmont Australia Reforestation Project

The Newmont Australia Reforestation Project (EOP100200) is a carbon sequestration initiative primarily located in the Parkes local government area of New South Wales, with additional project areas registered in Western Australia. The specific NSW location includes land parcels near Parkes, a major agricultural town approximately 365km west of Sydney. The project was registered in May 2013 and involves the permanent planting of Eucalyptus polybractea (Blue Mallee) on land previously cleared for agricultural use. Corporate reports indicate the project involved planting approximately 800,000 mallee seedlings across its sites to offset emissions from Newmont’s mining operations.

This project operates under the Reforestation and Afforestation methodology (Carbon Farming Initiative 2013). This method requires establishing trees on land that has been clear of forest for at least five years prior to the project's commencement. The primary activity is the planting of native species at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover (defined as at least 20% crown cover and a height of 2 meters). Unlike some environmental plantings designed solely for biodiversity, this project utilizes Eucalyptus polybractea, a species traditionally harvested for eucalyptus oil, though in this carbon context, it is managed as a permanent carbon sink.

The region surrounding Parkes and the broader Central West NSW slopes is characterized by a semi-arid to temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 500-600mm. The landscape is dominated by dryland cropping (wheat, canola) and sheep grazing. The soils in this "mallee country" are typically red earths, sandy loams, and clay types, which are well-suited to the deep-rooted, drought-tolerant Blue Mallee species.

An interesting aspect of this project is its dual-state registration, reflecting Newmont's national footprint (operating mines like Boddington in WA and Cadia in NSW). The project was managed by CO2 Australia, a pioneer in mallee eucalypt carbon sinks. While primarily a carbon offset project, Newmont has touted the biodiversity and salinity-mitigation benefits of these plantings in their sustainability reporting, noting that the trees help restore degraded agricultural soils.