Ellavale Native Forest Protection Project

The Ellavale Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located on Ellavale Station, approximately 70 kilometers north-west of Bourke in the remote "Back O' Bourke" region of New South Wales. Registered in November 2014, the project covers a massive 40,885-hectare area near the locality of Fords Bridge. The property sits within the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area characterized by semi-arid conditions, red sandy loam soils, and flat-to-undulating plains dominated by mulga and bimble box woodlands.

The project operates under the Avoided Deforestation methodology, which is designed to prevent the clearing of native forest on land that historically held a valid clearing permit prior to July 2010. By forfeiting the right to clear this land for agriculture, such as cropping or high-density pasture, the project prevents significant carbon emissions. Instead of conversion, the native forest is retained and managed for conservation while still allowing for sustainable grazing activities.

Ellavale Station has a significant history of pastoral use, specifically for grazing goats and sheep. In 2023, the property (along with the nearby Congararra Station) was acquired by high-profile investors Grimwade & Gordon, a partnership between George Grimwade and Michael Gordon, in a deal reportedly worth over $26 million. The station is noted for its ability to background up to 25,000 goats. The carbon project itself is contracted to supply over 1 million Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to the Commonwealth, securing a long-term revenue stream alongside its livestock operations. Uniquely, this project has committed to a 100-year permanence period, ensuring the protected forest remains standing until at least the year 2114.