Environmental Plantings in NPWS Reserves - Pilot Project stage 2

Environmental Plantings in NPWS Reserves - Pilot Project stage 2 is an aggregated environmental planting project situated across diverse landscapes in New South Wales. Rather than occupying a single contiguous property, the project comprises multiple sites within the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) estate. These sites are geographically dispersed, ranging from the semi-arid interior near Balranald and Hillston in the west, to the Central Tablelands near Rylstone, and extending to the North Coast regions near Kempsey and Grafton. Registered in February 2017, the project covers a total area of approximately 814 hectares.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings, FullCAM methodology. This involves establishing permanent plantings of mixed native tree species that are indigenous to the local area. A key requirement of this methodology is that the land must have been clear of forest and used for agricultural purposes, such as grazing or cropping, for at least five years prior to the project's commencement. The trees are planted at specific densities, typically exceeding 200 stems per hectare, to ensure they achieve crown cover suitable for permanent forest generation, modeled via the FullCAM system.

Given the vast geographic spread of the project coordinates, the environmental conditions vary significantly across the aggregation. The western sites, likely associated with reserves such as Yanga National Park near Balranald, are characterized by a semi-arid climate with low rainfall and red earth or sandy soils, historically used for extensive grazing. In contrast, the eastern sites near the Mid North Coast experience high rainfall and feature more diverse soil types including clays and loams, situated in regions known for forestry and mixed farming.

A notable aspect of this project is its "Pilot" nature and the high-level government involvement. The project represents a strategic initiative to utilize carbon finance for restoring degraded agricultural lands that have been acquired and added to the National Park estate. The proponent role was transferred in late 2025 to the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), reflecting a shift in administrative responsibility from the NSW state level. CO2 Australia Pty Ltd serves as a participant, likely providing the technical reforestation expertise and compliance management required to navigate the complex logistics of a multi-site government project.