Trilby Native Forest Protection Project

Trilby Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located at Trilby Station, approximately 125km southwest of Bourke near Louth in Outback New South Wales. It was registered in November 2014 and covers an area of 61,213.10 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects protect native forests from being cleared for agricultural use. A standard requirement of this methodology is that the land must have been issued a valid clearing permit prior to 1 July 2010. By protecting the forest, the project avoids the greenhouse gas emissions that would have resulted from planned deforestation, with carbon abatement estimated through field measurements and allometric equations collected during biomass surveys.

The Bourke and Louth region is characterised by a semi-arid, low rainfall climate. The local area is traditionally known for broadacre grazing of merino sheep and rangeland goats. The soils on the property vary from heavy, grey self-mulching clays along the Darling River floodplains to red loams across the rest of the station, supporting resilient native vegetation such as Mulga, Leopardwood, and Rosewood.

Trilby Station is a well-known, 320,000-acre family-run property owned by proponents Gary and Liz Murray, whose family has grazed merino sheep on the Darling River for seven generations dating back to 1860. In addition to the carbon project and livestock operations, the property functions as a highly-rated outback farm stay, offering visitors riverside camping, hiking, and self-guided station tours. The carbon project's agent is Terra Carbon Pty Limited, and in May 2015, the project varied its methodology to the updated Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative - Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015.