Conlea Native Forest Protection Project

Conlea Native Forest Protection Project is an avoided deforestation project located at "Conlea" station, approximately 130km west of Bourke and 55km southeast of Wanaaring in the Far West region of New South Wales. It was registered in May 2018 and covers an expansive 32,376.03 hectares.

Avoided deforestation projects protect native forests from being cleared for agricultural purposes. Under the 2015 methodology, these projects must occur on land where a valid clearing consent or permit was issued prior to 1 July 2010. By choosing to forego this right to clear the land, proponents avoid the greenhouse gas emissions that would have resulted from the deforestation.

The area around Bourke and Wanaaring is known for large pastoral leases typically used for sheep and cattle grazing. The region is classified as semi-arid to arid, experiencing very low and erratic annual rainfall averaging between 200mm to 400mm. The soils vary from deep sandy loams and red earths on undulating sandplains to heavy cracking clays on the floodplains.

This project aims to maintain a healthy mix of native trees, shrubs, and understorey species that reflect the natural composition of a protected native forest. Corporate sustainability reports show that the project's Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) have been actively utilized by businesses; for instance, the firm Brand Architects purchased and retired credits from the Conlea project to achieve their Climate Active carbon-neutral certification. While the proponent is Terra Carbon Pty Limited, environmental market developer GreenCollar has also been noted as working closely with the land managers to ensure quarterly compliance with the methodology.