Mopone Native Forest Protection Project

Mopone Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located approximately 15km northwest of Cobar in central-western New South Wales. It was registered in May 2014 and covers an area of 5,087.60 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects prevent greenhouse gas emissions by protecting native forests from being permanently cleared. A standard requirement for this methodology is that the land must have had a valid clearing permit issued before 1 July 2010. By not acting on this permit, the proponent prevents the land from being converted into an agricultural system.

The Cobar region is heavily utilised for pastoralism, and is well known for its extensive sheep, cattle, and rangeland goat grazing operations. The environment features a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 390-400mm. The local soils generally consist of undulating red loams and grey soils in low-lying flats, which support native vegetation like mulga, belah, and box woodlands.

This project avoids emissions by ceasing historical clearing practices to protect the standing native forest. Carbon stocks within the project area are measured using allometric equations applied to tree measurements collected during biomass surveys. Originally registered under the 2013 Avoided Deforestation methodology, the project underwent a variation in May 2015 to transition to the updated Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015. The project is situated on the historic pastoral lease known as Mopone Station.