Bulgoo Station Native Forest Protection Project

Bulgoo Station Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located approximately 42km south of Cobar in the Western Division of New South Wales. Registered in February 2014, the project covers a substantial area of 20,705 hectares on the Bulgoo pastoral station. The region is historically significant for rangeland grazing, particularly for sheep and goats, and is characterized by a semi-arid climate.

The project operates under the Avoided Deforestation 1.1 methodology, which is distinct from regeneration projects. This method generates carbon credits by protecting native forest that the landholder had legal permission to clear for agricultural use prior to July 1, 2010. By voluntarily foregoing the right to clear this vegetation, typically Invasive Native Scrub (INS) such as Mulga, White Cypress Pine, and Poplar Box, the project prevents the release of stored carbon. The landscape at Bulgoo features these native woodlands on quick-responding sandy loam and red earth soils.

Notable for its scale and economic impact, the project has been highlighted in media as a case study for drought resilience. The carbon revenue allowed the proponents, the Yench family, to maintain the property and infrastructure during periods of severe drought when livestock numbers had to be drastically reduced. The property was marketed for sale in 2021 as part of the "Bulgoo Aggregation," with the existing carbon project listed as a primary asset generating significant annual income. The project is managed with the assistance of agents Terra Carbon Pty Limited.