Bundanon Trust - Landcare Living Landscape - Reforestation Program

Bundanon Trust - Landcare Living Landscape - Reforestation Program is an environmental planting project located at Illaroo, approximately 15 kilometers northwest of Nowra in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales. Registered in September 2015, the project covers roughly 66 hectares of land situated along the Shoalhaven River. The surrounding region is characterized by a mix of remnant bushland and historic agricultural use, primarily grazing and dairying, which defined the area before parts were dedicated to conservation and the arts.

The project operates under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) Reforestation Modelling Tool methodology (2012). This involves establishing permanent plantings of native tree species on land that was historically cleared for agriculture, specifically grazing paddocks that had been cleared for at least five years prior to the project's commencement. The methodology generally requires planting at densities sufficient to achieve forest cover, often exceeding 200 stems per hectare, using species endemic to the local area to ensure ecological suitability and permanent carbon sequestration.

Environmentally, the Illaroo area falls within a high rainfall zone, receiving approximately 1,000mm to 1,300mm annually, which supports vigorous regeneration of the native Wet Sclerophyll and Rainforest vegetation communities. The soils are predominantly loams and alluvial deposits derived from the Shoalhaven Group sediments, particularly along the river flats where much of the planting activity occurs.

A unique feature of this project is its cultural significance; the Bundanon property was gifted to the Australian people by renowned artist Arthur Boyd. The "Living Landscape" initiative is a broad partnership involving Landcare Australia, Greening Australia, and the Australian Government. Beyond carbon sequestration, the program focuses heavily on biodiversity, aiming to reconnect habitat corridors, remove invasive weeds like Lantana, and serve as an educational site for students and the public to explore the intersection of art and environmental stewardship.