Osterley Downs Native Forest Protection Project

Osterley Downs Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located on the Kidman Way approximately 50km south of Cobar in western New South Wales. It was registered in January 2014 and covers a project area of 27,917.37 hectares.

Avoided Deforestation projects involve a commitment by land managers to protect and preserve native forests from being cleared and converted to agricultural systems like cropland or pasture. This methodology requires that a government clearing permit was issued for the land prior to 1 July 2010. By halting the planned deforestation, the project prevents the release of carbon emissions and maintains the forest as a permanent carbon sink.

The Cobar region is known for its strong history in mining and agriculture, predominantly focusing on sheep and cattle grazing. The environment is classified as semi-arid, experiencing low and highly variable rainfall (typically averaging around 350-400mm annually) alongside high evaporation rates. The soils in the area are generally red earths, sandy loams, and clay loams, often interspersed with rocky outcrops.

Osterley Downs is run by the Chambers family as a commercially successful Dorper sheep grazing enterprise. Notably, this was the first-ever Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) native forest protection project established on leasehold land in Australia. The project protects vital semi-arid woodland communities that are vulnerable to excessive regional clearing, and the area is heavily dominated by native species such as Callitris (cypress pine), Eucalyptus, Dodonaea (hopbush), and Eremophila.