Carpenters Native Forest Protection Project

The Carpenters Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located in the Bogan Shire of New South Wales, approximately 90 kilometers northwest of the township of Nyngan. Registered on March 11, 2015, the project covers a substantial area of 4,138.54 hectares. The site sits within the semi-arid rangelands of Western NSW, a region traditionally characterized by extensive grazing of sheep and cattle, as well as some opportunistic cropping on improved country.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015. Avoided Deforestation projects in this context are designed to protect native forest, often classified as Invasive Native Scrub (INS), that the landholder had legal permission to clear for agricultural conversion. To be eligible, the property must hold a clearing consent (specifically a Property Vegetation Plan) issued before July 1, 2010. By choosing not to exercise this right to clear, the proponent generates carbon credits (ACCUs) equivalent to the emissions avoided by keeping the trees standing and the carbon stored in their biomass.

Environmentally, the region experiences a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 400-450mm. The landscape is typically dominated by red earth and grey clay soils, supporting vegetation such as Mulga, Bimble Box, and White Cypress Pine. This project is managed by Terra Carbon Pty Limited, a subsidiary of the GreenCollar Group, which is Australia’s largest environmental markets developer. Notably, while the Avoided Deforestation 1.1 methodology was revoked for new entrants in February 2023 due to policy reviews regarding additionality, existing projects like Carpenters remain active and continue to generate credits for the duration of their crediting period.