Ellavale Native Forest Protection Project

Ellavale Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located on Ellavale Station, approximately 100km northwest of Bourke and 32km north of Fords Bridge in the Mulga Lands bioregion of New South Wales. Registered in November 2014, the project covers a substantial area of 40,884 hectares. The property is situated near the Queensland border within the Warrego River catchment, utilizing the natural watercourses of Irrara and Kerribee Creeks.

The project operates under the Avoided Deforestation 1.1 methodology. This specific method generates carbon credits by protecting native forest that was legally approved for clearing before July 1, 2010. By surrendering the right to clear this land for agriculture (such as grazing or cropping), the project proponents effectively avoid the emissions that would have resulted from the removal and decomposition of the biomass. The project has a 100-year permanence period, ensuring the forest remains protected for a century.

Regionally, the area is characterized by a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 300mm to 350mm. The landscape is typical of the Western NSW soft country, featuring red sandy loams, clay pans, and timbered country dominated by Mulga (Acacia aneura), Coolibah, and Box eucalypts. The land use in this region is primarily rangeland grazing for sheep, goats, and cattle.

A significant administrative change occurred in September 2023, following the sale of the property in February 2023. The project proponent transferred from the original owner, Hayes Pastoral Corporation, to Grimwade & Gordon Land Pty Ltd. Grimwade & Gordon, a partnership between the late George Grimwade and Michael Gordon, acquired Ellavale Station along with the nearby Congararra property for approximately $26 million. This acquisition was part of a broader expansion by the pastoral company, which has managed large-scale sheep and goat operations across NSW and Queensland.