Muella Native Forest Protection Project

Muella Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation carbon project located in the Bourke Shire, approximately 110km northwest of Bourke near Yantabulla in far-western New South Wales. It was registered in April 2015 and covers 13,837.90 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects involve protecting native forests from being cleared and preventing the land from being converted to an agricultural system. To qualify under this methodology, the land must have been subject to a historic land clearing permit issued prior to 1 July 2010. By running this project, the landholders permanently forgo their right to clear the trees, avoiding the greenhouse gas emissions that would have resulted from deforestation and subsequent land conversion.

The Bourke region is characterised by a semi-arid climate with historically low and highly variable rainfall. The typical land use in this outback area is extensive sheep and cattle grazing. Soils in the district generally consist of red earths (kandosols and chromosols), sandy loams, and heavier clay plains.

Interestingly, the project varied its method on 17 August 2015, transitioning from the 2013 determination to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Avoided Deforestation 1.1) Methodology Determination 2015. The proponents, Kylie Baty and Michael (Joe) Baty, are active local graziers who manage the Muella property. They have demonstrated strong community involvement; for instance, Kylie Baty co-organised a "Ladies Drought Day" to support and lift the spirits of local women in agriculture dealing with the emotional and physical exhaustion of managing rural properties during severe regional droughts.