Ashwood Native Forest Protection Project

Ashwood Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located approximately 40 to 90km north of Cobar in NSW. It spreads across two properties, was registered in June 2014, and covers an extensive area of 21,205.34 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects are designed to protect native forests from being cleared and prevent the land from being converted to an agricultural system. A standard requirement for this methodology is that the project area must have been subject to a valid land clearing permit issued prior to 1 July 2010. The project originally operated under the 2013 methodology but underwent a method variation in May 2015 to transition to the Avoided Deforestation 1.1 Methodology Determination 2015.

The surrounding Cobar region is heavily utilised for pastoral grazing, primarily sheep and cattle, alongside regional mining operations. The environment experiences a semi-arid climate with characteristically low rainfall, making agricultural operations highly vulnerable to drought. The region's soils largely consist of red earths, clay loams, and sandy loams.

Managed by the Francisco families in partnership with GreenCollar (acting via Terra Carbon Pty Limited), the project presented a life-changing alternative to clearing the land during a period of low stock prices and severe drought. Revenue generated from the carbon project has funded major infrastructure upgrades across the properties, including extensive fencing to enable rotational paddock resting and upgraded water systems to improve overall drought resilience and mitigate fire risks. Additionally, a 2015 NSW parliamentary report noted that the project was anticipated to reduce emissions by over 1.25 million tonnes across a 10-year period, injecting more than $17 million into the regional economy.