Bloomfield Native Forest Protection Project

Bloomfield Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located at Bloomfield Station, approximately 60km south-west of Cobar in the central west region of New South Wales. It was registered on July 4, 2014, and covers an expansive area of 23,678.87 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects involve protecting native forests from being cleared and converted to agricultural systems, such as cropping or grazing. Under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015, standard requirements mandate that the land must possess a valid clearing permit or consent issued prior to 1 July 2010. By preventing the planned deforestation, the project avoids the release of greenhouse gas emissions that would have otherwise occurred.

The Cobar region is situated on the Cobar Peneplain and is characterized by a semi-arid climate with low rainfall. Typical land use in the surrounding area is pastoral grazing, primarily for sheep and cattle, along with long-standing mining operations. The soils in this region generally consist of fragile red earths and sandy loams.

The project is managed by proponents Dorothee Stephanie Maria Kaak, Judith Esther Maria Kaak, and Peter Andries Jansen, with Terra Carbon Pty Limited acting as the project agent. To determine the preserved carbon stock, the project uses allometric equations applied to tree measurements collected through biomass surveys conducted within the project area. In April 2015, the project secured a fixed-delivery Carbon Abatement Contract with the Australian Government, committing to deliver 483,574 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) over a delivery period of 11.19 years.