Mopone Native Forest Protection Project

The Mopone Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located at Mopone Station, approximately 15km north of Cobar in the Far West region of New South Wales. Registered in May 2014, the project covers a substantial area of 5,087 hectares. The project is situated within the Cobar Peneplain bioregion, an area historically significant for both mining and rangeland grazing.

Avoided Deforestation projects are a specific category of carbon farming that protect native forest from being cleared. To be eligible, the landholder must hold a clearing consent (such as an Invasive Native Scrub permit) that was issued prior to 1 July 2010. By choosing not to exercise this right to clear, the project prevents carbon stored in the trees from being released into the atmosphere and protects the land from conversion to cropping or pasture systems.

The Cobar region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with a median annual rainfall of approximately 390mm, which can be highly variable. The landscape typically features red earth soils and sandy loams that support vegetation such as Mulga (Acacia aneura) and Bimble Box (Eucalyptus populnea) woodlands. These environmental conditions make the preservation of existing native vegetation crucial for preventing soil erosion and maintaining local biodiversity.

The project is operated by Robert Malcolm Neate with the assistance of Terra Carbon Pty Limited as the agent. It holds a carbon abatement contract with the Australian Government to deliver over 400,000 tonnes of abatement. Notably, the project underwent a methodology variation in 2015, transitioning to the updated 1.1 determination to align with revised scheme calculations.