Bloomfield Native Forest Protection Project

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

Avoided deforestation projects involve protecting native forests from being cleared and converted to agricultural systems. Under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative - Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015, the project area must possess a valid clearing consent or permit that was issued before July 1, 2010. By choosing not to clear the land, proponents avoid the greenhouse gas emissions that would have otherwise occurred, earning carbon credits based on the forest's preserved carbon stocks, which are estimated using allometric equations and biomass surveys.

The Cobar region is well known for its strong mining sector, particularly copper, gold, lead, and zinc, as well as its extensive pastoral industries, predominantly sheep and goat grazing. The local environment is classified as a semi-arid steppe climate, experiencing relatively low average annual rainfall of around 380mm to 400mm. The soils in this region are typically massive red earths, transitioning to shallow sandy loams and lithosols across the area's rocky ridges and sandstone outcrops.

This project transitioned from the original 2013 Avoided Deforestation methodology to the updated 2015 determination on May 18, 2015. Managed with the assistance of the agent Terra Carbon Pty Limited, it has been a highly active participant in the carbon market, securing a Fixed Delivery Carbon Abatement Contract with the government and successfully delivering hundreds of thousands of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to date. To ensure the long-term protection of the forest, the project is subject to a strict 100-year permanence period running until the year 2114.