Killala Native Forest Protection Project

The Killala Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located on "Killala" station, approximately 85 kilometers south of Cobar and west of Nymagee in the Western Division of New South Wales. Registered in October 2014, the project covers a substantial area of 9,843 hectares. The region is situated within the Cobar Peneplain, an area traditionally dominated by rangeland grazing (sheep and cattle) and opportunistic cropping.

The project operates under the Avoided Deforestation 1.1 methodology. This specific project type is distinct because it requires the landholder to hold a clearing permit that was issued prior to 1 July 2010. Essentially, the landholder possesses the legal right to clear the native forest for agricultural use (typically to manage invasive native scrub and improve pasture). However, by registering the project, they agree to voluntarily surrender this right, protecting the forest and its stored carbon in perpetuity.

The environment at Killala is characterized by a semi-arid climate with variable rainfall averaging around 350-400mm annually. The landscape typically features red earth and loam soils supporting vegetation communities such as Mulga, Bimble Box, and White Cypress Pine.

An interesting facet of this project is the change in proponent from the individual landholder, Kenneth James Dunne, to Terra Carbon Pty Limited in 2015. Terra Carbon is a subsidiary of GreenCollar, Australia's largest environmental markets investor. This transition highlights a common industry model where specialized project developers manage the complex regulatory reporting for graziers. Furthermore, while the Avoided Deforestation method was revoked for new entrants in 2023 following the Independent Review of Australian Carbon Credit Units, existing projects like Killala remain active and continue to generate credits for the remainder of their crediting period.