Environmental Plantings in NPWS Reserves - Pilot Project 1

Environmental Plantings in NPWS Reserves - Pilot Project 1 is a dispersed reforestation project located across multiple diverse landscapes in New South Wales. Rather than a single contiguous site, the project aggregates land areas within the NSW National Parks estate, with significant plantings situated near Cooma in the Snowy Monaro region, the Brindabella ranges near Canberra, Kempsey on the Mid North Coast, and Moree on the North West Slopes. Registered in April 2016, the project encompasses a total area of approximately 748 hectares.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology. This involves establishing permanent native forests on land that was previously cleared for agricultural use (such as grazing or cropping) for at least five years prior to commencement. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the plantings must be managed to achieve "forest cover," defined as trees reaching a height of at least 2 meters with a crown cover of at least 20%. Standard requirements for such environmental plantings typically mandate a stocking density of at least 200 stems per hectare to ensure these forest cover thresholds are met.

Given the widespread nature of the project, the environmental conditions are highly variable. The southern sites, such as those in the Kosciuszko and Brindabella National Parks, are characterized by cool temperate climates, granite-derived soils, and moderate to high rainfall (including snowfall). In contrast, the northern inland sites near Moree typically experience semi-arid conditions with heavy clay (vertosol) soils, while the coastal sites near Kempsey enjoy a subtropical climate with high rainfall and loamy soils.

A key feature of this project is its status as a "Pilot" initiative by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), now under the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (NSW). The project was designed to demonstrate how acquiring degraded agricultural land for inclusion in the National Park reserve system could be funded and supported by carbon markets. By restoring these lands with native species, the project aims to deliver "Carbon Plus" benefits, sequestering carbon while simultaneously expanding habitat for native wildlife and enhancing biodiversity within the protected area network.