Etiwanda Native Forest Protection Project

Etiwanda Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation carbon project located at the Etiwanda property, approximately 90km south of Cobar in the semi-arid rangelands of central-western New South Wales. It was registered in June 2014 and covers an area of 9,932.91 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects protect native forests by avoiding greenhouse gas emissions that would have occurred if the land was intentionally cleared. The Carbon Farming Initiative-Avoided Deforestation 1.1 methodology requires that the forest area had a valid clearing permit issued prior to 1 July 2010, permanently preventing the land from being deforested and converted into an agricultural system.

The Cobar region is heavily characterised by a semi-arid environment with low and highly variable seasonal rainfall. The local landscape typically features hard-setting red earth soils, clay pans, and native invasive shrublands. Surrounding regional land use is predominantly extensive agricultural grazing, primarily catering to cattle and sheep.

The Etiwanda property itself is highly regarded for its holistic, regenerative agriculture practices, operating alongside the carbon project as a successful grazing enterprise for White Dorper sheep. The project was originally registered by Stuart and Nancy Mosely, but the proponent status was varied and formally transferred to Terra Carbon Pty Limited in February 2021. GreenCollar, an environmental markets investor, acts as an active project partner and developer for the site. Furthermore, the project underwent a method variation in May 2015 to actively reflect the updated 2015 methodology determination parameters.