Kia Ora Native Forest Protection Project

Kia Ora Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located approximately 70km southwest of Cobar in New South Wales. It was registered in March 2015 and covers an area of 17,867.41 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects involve generating carbon credits by protecting native forests on land that holds a valid clearing permit issued before 1 July 2010. Instead of exercising the right to clear the native forest for agricultural use, such as cropping or grazing, the proponent commits to protecting the forest in perpetuity, thereby preventing the release of stored carbon into the atmosphere. In May 2015, the project successfully varied its methodology from the 2013 determination to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015.

The Cobar Peneplain bioregion is characterised by a semi-arid climate with low, variable rainfall and high evaporation rates. The local environment predominantly features red and brown Vertosols, red Chromosols, and hard red earth soil types. Land use in this area is historically driven by pastoral agriculture, particularly extensive sheep and goat grazing, alongside active and historical mining operations.

The project area is located on a family-run grazing enterprise and is dominated by native species such as Callitris, Eucalyptus, Dodonea, and Eremophila. These vegetation types have typically been cleared or degraded in many parts of western NSW, making the protection of this property ecologically significant for the conservation of local native plants and wildlife. Notably, Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated from this project by the proponent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited (a subsidiary of GreenCollar), have been purchased by Origin Energy to offset emissions for their Climate Active certified "Green Gas" product.