Oakleigh Native Forest Protection Project

The Oakleigh Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located on the 'Oakleigh' property, approximately 60km east of Bourke and southwest of Brewarrina in Western New South Wales. Registered in May 2014, the project covers a substantial area of 10,542 hectares within the Brewarrina Shire Council area. This region is part of the Mulga Lands and Cobar Peneplain bioregions, areas traditionally utilized for rangeland grazing of sheep and cattle, as well as some opportunistic dryland cropping.

Avoided Deforestation projects under the Carbon Farming Initiative 1.1 methodology are designed to protect native forests that have a documented history of clearing consent. Specifically, this project secures native vegetation on land where a government clearing permit was issued prior to 1 July 2010 for the purpose of converting the land to agricultural use, such as crops or grassland. By voluntarily surrendering the right to clear this land, the proponents generate carbon credits equivalent to the emissions that would have been released had the forest been removed and the soil disturbed.

The environment in this semi-arid region is characterized by variable rainfall, typically averaging between 300mm and 400mm annually, though highly susceptible to drought. The landscape likely features Red Chromosols (red earth soils) and texture-contrast soils typical of the ridgelines, transitioning to Grey or Brown Vertosols (cracking clays) on the lower floodplains. The vegetation protected is likely a mix of Mulga (Acacia aneura), Bimble Box, and other native woodlands resilient to the harsh, dry conditions.

The project is managed by the landholders, Marie Newton and Robert Newton, with the assistance of Select Carbon (now a subsidiary of Shell Australia). Notably, the project has successfully fulfilled multiple Carbon Abatement Contracts (CAC182772 and CAC401187) with the Australian Government, delivering verified abatement to the Clean Energy Regulator over several years.