Carbon Estate - Creating a Better Climate

Carbon Estate - Creating a Better Climate is a reforestation project located on the Barooga Karrai property near Euabalong, approximately 170km west of Condobolin in New South Wales. Registered in September 2013, the project operates within the Lachlan Shire local government area. The planting site is situated on land traditionally owned by the Wiradjuri people and is currently held by the Murrin Bridge Local Aboriginal Land Council.

The project utilizes the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM methodology, which involves establishing permanent native trees on land previously cleared for agricultural use. Specifically, this project focuses on planting mallee species, including Eucalyptus polybractea (Blue Mallee), Eucalyptus loxophleba (York Gum), and Eucalyptus kochii (Oil Mallee). These plantings are designed to sequester carbon while integrating with existing farming operations, often arranged in belts to provide shelter for livestock and crops.

The Euabalong region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 350-400mm. The landscape is dominated by red earth and clay loam soils, supporting land uses such as grazing and dryland cropping. The project area itself covers portions of the 10,626-hectare Barooga Karrai station, which has a history of agricultural activity including cereal cropping and cattle trading before being returned to Aboriginal ownership.

A notable aspect of this project is its social contribution; it was one of the first carbon projects developed in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council network. The initiative aims to provide economic development opportunities for the local Indigenous community through revenue sharing and employment in land management activities. The project is managed by CO2 Australia, a leading carbon forestry manager, ensuring compliance and operational standards.