Biodiverse Carbon Conservation Morella

Biodiverse Carbon Conservation Morella is a large-scale environmental planting project located across the Murray-Darling Basin region of South Australia. Registered in July 2015, the project encompasses a total area of 5,756 hectares, dispersed across four distinct sites that stretch from the coastal Coorong National Park in the south to the Murray Mallee region in the north. The southern components of the project are situated near the town of Meningie and the locality of Salt Creek, while the northern sites are located inland near Loxton and the Victorian border.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings methodology, utilizing the FullCAM model to estimate carbon sequestration. This involves establishing permanent native vegetation on land that was previously cleared for agriculture, primarily grazing, for at least five years. By planting mixed native species at a density sufficient to form forest cover (typically over 200 stems per hectare), the project aims to regenerate natural woodland ecosystems while generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Environmentally, the project spans a transition zone from the semi-arid conditions of the Riverland Mallee to the wetter, coastal influence of the Coorong. The region is characterized by sandy soils, often overlying limestone (calcrete) or ancient dune systems. Rainfall varies significantly across the sites, ranging from approximately 300mm in the northern Mallee to around 450mm near the coast.

A key feature of this project is its focus on biodiversity corridors. The "Morella" property itself acts as a vital link between the Coorong National Park and the Messent Conservation Park, helping to restore habitat for threatened species such as the Malleefowl and migratory shorebirds. The proponent, Canopy Nature Based Solutions (formerly Biodiverse Carbon Conservation), is the environmental credit subsidiary of the non-profit Greening Australia, highlighting the project's dual focus on carbon abatement and conservation.