Fords Bridge Aggregation Native Forest Protection Project

Fords Bridge Aggregation Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located near the small settlement of Fords Bridge, approximately 60 to 70 kilometers northwest of Bourke in the "Back O' Bourke" region of north-western New South Wales. It was registered in November 2014 and covers an expansive 32,827.27 hectares.

Avoided Deforestation projects involve protecting native forests that were scheduled to be cleared for agricultural purposes. The standard requirement for this methodology is that the land must have had a valid clearing consent issued prior to July 1, 2010. By voluntarily opting not to clear the forest, proponents avoid greenhouse gas emissions and generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), which are typically measured through on-site biomass surveys and allometric equations to determine carbon stock.

The Bourke and Fords Bridge region is situated within a semi-arid climatic zone, characterized by low and highly variable rainfall. Typical soils in the area consist of red sandy loams, heavy clays, and alluvial plains stretching out from the nearby Warrego River. The predominant agricultural land use in this outback region is extensive sheep and cattle grazing on native pastures.

The project operates under a 100-year permanence period, ensuring the long-term conservation of the forest out to December 2114. In May 2015, the project was updated to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015. Additionally, the project's agent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited, successfully secured an active contract (CAC446452) with the Commonwealth during the April 2015 auction to deliver the avoided emissions abatement.