Nullawarra Station Native Forest Protection Project

Nullawarra Station Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located at Nullawarra Station, approximately 35km south of Cobar in western New South Wales. It was registered in February 2014 and covers an area of 9,423.73 ha.

Avoided deforestation projects generate carbon credits by protecting native forests from being cleared and converted into agricultural systems. For this specific methodology to apply, the land must have been issued a valid clearing permit prior to 1 July 2010. By relinquishing the right to clear the land, the project prevents the greenhouse gas emissions that would have resulted from the deforestation and subsequent decay or burning of the vegetation.

The Cobar Peneplain region is historically known for extensive leasehold rangeland grazing, primarily supporting sheep, goats, and cattle operations. The local environment is classified as semi-arid, experiencing highly variable and generally low rainfall averaging between 350mm and 400mm annually. Soils across the region are typically dominated by red Chromosols and well-structured grey and brown Vertosols.

Interestingly, this carbon project operates alongside the Jan-A-Ree SheepMaster Stud, a specialised commercial full-blood sheep breeding enterprise run by the project's proponent, David Harrison, demonstrating how native forest preservation can run concurrently with adapted agricultural operations. Additionally, the registry variation noted in October 2021 to update the project participants followed the tragic passing of original co-proponent Jan Harrison in late 2015.