Noona Station Native Forest Protection Project

Noona Station Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located approximately 90km west-southwest of Cobar in western New South Wales. It was registered in November 2014 and covers a total project area of 18,018.71 hectares, with a specific managed carbon estimation area of 4,248 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects involve protecting native forests from being cleared and converted into agricultural systems. A standard requirement for this methodology is that the land must have been issued a valid clearing permit prior to 1 July 2010. By choosing not to exercise this permit and retaining the vegetation, the project actively avoids the greenhouse gas emissions that would have occurred during deforestation.

The Cobar region is a semi-arid environment characterized by low rainfall. The general land use in this area is extensive livestock grazing, primarily for sheep and cattle, and the soils generally consist of red earths and sandy loams.

Interestingly, while the project was originally established by Rhonda and Robert Hansen, Noona Station was taken over by Marc and Jo Griffiths in 2019. The project proponent was later varied to Terra Carbon Pty Limited in 2021. The carbon project contract ensures the protection and management of the native forest for 100 years. It has also provided a reliable secondary income stream for the new owners, funding the construction of 15km of new fencing. This has significantly improved their livestock management while injecting money into the local community by hiring local labour and sourcing materials locally.