Catchment Conservation Alliance - Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site #17

Catchment Conservation Alliance - Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site #17 is an Avoided Clearing project located approximately 35km southwest of Rockhampton in Central Queensland. Registered on November 16, 2020, the project secures 1,532.58 hectares of native forest within the Fitzroy River Basin. A variation to the project area occurred in January 2021, removing certain areas from the project boundary.

The project operates under the "Avoided Clearing of Native Regrowth" methodology. This method generates carbon credits by protecting native forest on agricultural land that has a history of being cleared (typically for grazing) and where the landholder retains the legal right to clear it again. By agreeing not to clear this regrowth, the project ensures carbon remains stored in the vegetation.

The region is characterized by a sub-tropical climate with summer-dominant rainfall, supporting extensive cattle grazing operations. The soil in this part of the Fitzroy Basin often consists of cracking clays or texture-contrast soils typical of the Brigalow Belt. As indicated by the "Great Barrier Reef Initiative" title and the proponent Terra Carbon (a GreenCollar company), this project likely targets co-benefits such as reducing sediment runoff into the reef catchment, improving water quality alongside carbon sequestration.