Nullawarra Station Native Forest Protection Project

Nullawarra Station Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located at Nullawarra Station, approximately 35km southwest of Cobar in the Orana region of New South Wales. The project was registered on February 18, 2014, and covers a substantial area of 9,423 hectares.

The region surrounding Cobar is characterized by a semi-arid climate with average annual rainfall of approximately 390mm, supporting a landscape dominated by mulga and bimble box woodlands. Land use in this area is primarily grazing for sheep, goats, and cattle on native vegetation. The soils are typically red earths and lithosols, common to the Cobar Peneplain bioregion, which can be susceptible to erosion if vegetation cover is removed.

Avoided Deforestation projects under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015 prevent the clearing of native forest that would otherwise be converted to cropland or grassland. A critical requirement for this methodology is that the landholder must hold a valid clearing consent (such as an Invasive Native Scrub Property Vegetation Plan) issued prior to July 1, 2010. By choosing not to exercise this permit, the project generates carbon credits for the emissions avoided from the trees that remain standing.

This project is one of two carbon projects on the station, with "Nullawarra Station #2" covering a similar acreage nearby. The project holds a Fixed Delivery contract (CAC507839) with the Clean Energy Regulator to supply over 229,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to the Commonwealth, ensuring a steady stream of abatement is verified and sold over its crediting period.