Conlea Native Forest Protection Project

The Conlea Native Forest Protection Project is an Avoided Deforestation project located at "Conlea" station, approximately 130 kilometres west of Bourke in the far west of New South Wales. Registered in May 2018, the project covers a significant area of 32,376 hectares within the Mulga Lands bioregion. This region is characterized by its semi-arid climate and "red country" landscape, consisting of flat red earth soils, clay pans, and sandy ridges. The primary land use in this remote area is extensive grazing, typically for sheep, goats, and cattle, supported by the hardy native vegetation.

The project operates under the Avoided Deforestation 1.1 methodology, which is designed to prevent the clearing of native forest on land that had historically received government permission to be converted into agricultural pasture or cropland. Specifically, this method requires that the landholder held a valid clearing permit (often an Invasive Native Scrub Property Vegetation Plan) issued before 1 July 2010. By choosing not to exercise this permit, the project generates carbon credits for the emissions avoided from the trees that would otherwise have been bulldozed and burned.

Managed by Terra Carbon Pty Limited (part of the GreenCollar Group), the project protects a diverse mix of native species, including Mulga, Coolibah, Bimble Box, and Turpentine. The landholder, Peter Johnston, integrates the carbon project with his livestock operations, using the revenue to fund infrastructure improvements such as fencing. This approach allows for rotational grazing that reduces pressure on the landscape, reportedly leading to improved ground cover and drought resilience compared to traditional clearing practices.