Bundella North Native Forest Protection Project

Bundella North Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located approximately 40km northwest of Cobar in the Western Division of New South Wales. Registered in November 2014, the project secures a vast area of 5,985 hectares within the semi-arid rangelands. The region is predominantly used for extensive grazing of sheep and cattle, with land management often focused on controlling invasive native scrub to improve pasture growth.

Avoided Deforestation projects differ significantly from tree planting initiatives; they generate carbon credits by preventing the clearing of existing native forest. To be eligible, the landholder must hold a valid clearing consent (usually an Invasive Native Scrub property vegetation plan) issued before 1 July 2010. By surrendering the right to clear this vegetation for agriculture, the project ensures the carbon remains stored in the biomass of trees and shrubs.

The environment in this part of the Cobar Peneplain is characterized by a semi-arid climate with unreliable rainfall, averaging around 360mm annually. The landscape typically features red earth soils (Chromosols) and skeletal soils (Lithosols) on ridges, supporting hardy vegetation such as Mulga (Acacia aneura), Bimble Box (Eucalyptus populnea), and White Cypress Pine. These forests provide critical habitat for native biodiversity in an area otherwise heavily modified for grazing.

An interesting administrative note for this project is the variation of the participant name in 2015 from Carrol Abeni to Terra Carbon Pty Limited, a dedicated carbon project developer. This shift often indicates a move towards professional management to handle the complex reporting requirements of the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme. The project operates under a "permanent protection" mechanism, meaning the forest must be maintained and protected from clearing for typically 100 years.