Environmental Plantings in NPWS Reserves - Pilot Project 1

Environmental Plantings in NPWS Reserves - Pilot Project 1 is a multi-site carbon sequestration initiative located across diverse regions of New South Wales, rather than a single contiguous property. Registered in April 2016, the project encompasses approximately 748 hectares of land within the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) estate. The project sites are widely dispersed, ranging from the semi-arid plains near Moree in the north-west, to the coastal hinterland near Kempsey, and extending south to the alpine tablelands near Cooma, Bombala, and the Yass Valley.

The project operates under the Environmental Plantings methodology, which involves establishing permanent native forests on land that was historically cleared for agricultural use. The sites selected for this pilot were formerly private agricultural properties, predominantly used for grazing or cropping, that were acquired by the NSW Government to expand the reserve system. The primary activity involves planting mixed native tree species at densities sufficient to achieve forest cover, managed by service provider CO2 Australia. This "portfolio" approach allows the proponent to aggregate carbon abatement across different ecosystems.

Due to the geographic dispersion, the environmental conditions vary significantly across the project area. The northern site near Moree is characterized by a semi-arid climate with heavy clay soils (often black vertosols) and summer-dominant rainfall. In contrast, the southern sites in the Snowy Monaro region experience cool temperate climates with granite or sedimentary soils and cold winters. The coastal site near Kempsey typically features higher rainfall and distinct vegetation types compared to the inland locations.

A notable aspect of this project is its status as a "Pilot" for the NSW Government's strategy to generate revenue from carbon farming on conservation land. By reforesting degraded buffer lands acquired for National Parks, the project aims to improve biodiversity connectivity while generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). The project has successfully secured a contract with the Australian Government, committing to deliver abatement over a fixed period.