Glenariff Native Forest Protection Project

The Glenariff Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located on the historic 'Glenariff' pastoral station in the Orana region of New South Wales. The vast 16,268-hectare project area sits approximately 25 kilometers west of the small locality of Coolabah and roughly 85 kilometers southeast of the major service centre of Bourke. Registered in May 2014, the project is situated within the Western Division of NSW, a region traditionally characterized by extensive sheep and cattle grazing on large pastoral leases.

Avoided Deforestation projects under the Carbon Farming Initiative are distinct because they require the landholder to hold a valid clearing consent that was issued prior to July 1, 2010. By choosing not to exercise this permit to clear the land for agriculture (cropping or pasture), the project prevents significant greenhouse gas emissions. Instead of converting the landscape, the proponent maintains the native forest cover, typically comprising species such as Bimble Box, White Cypress Pine, and Mulga, protecting the stored carbon for a defined permanence period.

The environment in this part of the Brewarrina Shire is classified as semi-arid, featuring hot summers and mild winters with variable rainfall. The terrain generally consists of the flat to undulating plains typical of the Cobar Peneplain, with soils predominantly composed of red earths and sandy loams that support the native scrub vegetation.

A notable aspect of the Glenariff project is its maturity; it has successfully completed its fixed delivery contract (CAC137406) as of November 2023. This indicates that the proponents have fulfilled their initial obligations to the Australian Government and may now be free to trade generated credits on the secondary market. The project operates with a 100-year permanence period, ensuring the protected forest remains standing until at least 2115. The project is managed in partnership with Select Carbon, a major service provider now owned by Shell Energy.