Muella Native Forest Protection Project

The Muella Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located on Muella Station, approximately 130 kilometers northwest of Bourke in the remote Mulga Lands of New South Wales. Registered in April 2015, the project covers a substantial area of 13,837 hectares. The property sits within the Paroo Shire region, an area characterized by its semi-arid climate and vast, undulating red earth landscapes. The region is predominantly used for rangeland grazing, particularly for sheep and goats, though carbon farming has become an increasingly vital land use in recent years.

Operating under the Avoided Deforestation 1.1 methodology, the project ensures the preservation of native forest that was legally approved for clearing. To qualify, the landholders must hold a clearing permit issued before July 1, 2010, and voluntarily agree to surrender this right, thereby maintaining the carbon stored in the vegetation. By preventing the conversion of this forest into agricultural land, such as cropping or pasture, the project generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) equivalent to the avoided emissions.

The environment at Muella Station is defined by low, variable rainfall, averaging around 300mm annually, and features a mix of red earth soils and deep siliceous sands. The landscape supports resilient vegetation types including Mulga (Acacia aneura) and Gidgee, interspersed with intermittent treed swamps and claypans. Interestingly, the station has served as a significant research site for aquatic ecology; studies conducted on its ephemeral swamps have identified diverse communities of aquatic invertebrates, including rare species of clam shrimp (Paralimnadia queenslandicus), highlighting the ecological value of the protected area beyond just carbon sequestration. The property has also been associated with the Baty family, who have been noted in local agricultural reports for innovative livestock management, including the use of guardian donkeys.