Lachlan Downs Native Forest Protection Project

Lachlan Downs Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located at Lachlan Downs Station, approximately 70km south of Cobar in Western New South Wales. Registered in July 2014, the project covers a substantial area of 18,640 hectares. The property sits within the Cobar Peneplain bioregion, an area traditionally dominated by grazing (sheep, cattle, and goats) and opportunistic cropping, though the proponents, Dominic and Jillian Prince, also utilize the land for an outback nature retreat known as "The Space at Lachlan Downs."

The project operates under the Avoided Deforestation 1.1 methodology. This specific carbon farming method is designed for landholders who hold a broadscale clearing permit issued before 1 July 2010. By choosing not to exercise their legal right to clear the native forest for agriculture, the proponents generate carbon credits for the emissions avoided. This effectively protects the standing vegetation in perpetuity, preventing the conversion of the forest into pasture or cropland.

Environmentally, the region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with low, variable rainfall. The landscape typically features red earth and sandy loam soils known as "red dirt," supporting vegetation such as Mulga (Acacia aneura), Bimble Box (Eucalyptus populnea), and various Eremophila species. The preservation of this native woodland helps maintain biodiversity and prevents soil erosion in a landscape often susceptible to degradation from overgrazing and clearing.