Oakvale Native Forest Protection Project

The Oakvale Native Forest Protection Project is a large-scale avoided deforestation initiative located on the "Oakvale" pastoral station near the locality of Coolabah, approximately 85 kilometers northwest of Nyngan in New South Wales. Registered in May 2014, the project covers a substantial area of 13,953 hectares within the Bogan Shire. The property is situated along the Mitchell Highway, a region traditionally characterized by extensive grazing and sheep farming operations.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology was specifically designed for landholders in Western NSW who held "Invasive Native Scrub" (INS) clearing permits issued before July 1, 2010. By choosing not to exercise their legal right to clear this native forest for agricultural expansion, the proponent generates carbon credits based on the emissions avoided. The method essentially incentivizes the retention of native vegetation that would have otherwise been removed to create open pasture.

Environmentally, the site lies within the Cobar Peneplain bioregion, an area defined by a semi-arid climate with rainfall averaging around 350-400mm annually. The landscape typically features red loam and clay soils supporting vegetation such as Mulga (Acacia aneura), Bimble Box (Eucalyptus populnea), and White Cypress Pine. These "scrub" species are often dense and were historically cleared to improve grass growth for livestock, making their protection a significant shift in land management for the area.

A notable feature of this project is its long-term commitment; it has a 100-year permanence period, requiring the forest to be protected until October 2114. The project successfully completed its fixed delivery Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC130427) in September 2022, delivering over 240,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to the Commonwealth. It is worth noting that the "Avoided Deforestation" method was revoked for new entrants in early 2023 following an independent review, though existing projects like Oakvale remain active and valid.