Etiwanda Native Forest Protection Project

Etiwanda Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located on a grazing property near Cobar in the central-western region of New South Wales. It was registered in June 2014 and covers a total project area of 9,932.91 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects prevent greenhouse gas emissions by protecting native forests that would otherwise be cleared and converted into agricultural systems, such as cropping or grazing. A key standard requirement for this methodology is that a valid land clearing permit or consent must have been issued prior to 1 July 2010.

The Cobar region is characterised by a semi-arid climate with low, highly variable rainfall. The area's soils are predominantly red earths and sandy loams, which heavily support the region's primary land use of large-scale pastoral grazing, particularly for sheep and cattle.

The project was originally set up by Stuart and Nancy Mosely, who integrated the carbon initiative into their broader land management approach. The additional cash flow from the project allowed them to fast-track infrastructure improvements by up to 10 years and subdivide their property from eight large paddocks into 35. This structural change enabled time-controlled rotational grazing with crucial rest periods for the land, leaving them with up to twice as much biomass during periods of drought. The project’s financial success also allowed the Moselys to send their daughters to boarding school in Orange, inspiring a new generation of farmers. The project method was varied in May 2015 to the Avoided Deforestation 1.1 Methodology Determination, and the proponent was officially updated to Terra Carbon Pty Limited in February 2021.