Reforestation Project

Reforestation Project (ERF168437) is a permanent environmental planting project located at Yarrowyck, approximately 40 kilometers west of Armidale in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Registered in December 2021, the project covers a total area of 714.91 hectares within the Uralla Shire Council local government area. The site was previously a sheep station used for grazing, a common land use in the region.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM) Methodology. This methodology requires establishing permanent plantings of native tree species on land that was clear of forest for at least five years prior to commencement. The specific activities for this project involve planting a mix of native species, including local provenance trees and shrubs, to achieve a forest cover that mimics the natural vegetation of the area.

Environmentally, the Yarrowyck region is part of the New England Tablelands, characterized by a temperate climate with cool winters and summer-dominant rainfall. The terrain is often hilly with granitic soils (common in the New England "granite belt") and Chromosols, which can be prone to erosion if vegetation cover is removed. The project aims to restore degraded land, improve soil resilience against drought and flood, and establish a wildlife corridor connecting the Gwydir River to the Northern Tablelands.

A notable aspect of this project is its history as a high-profile pilot initiative originally developed by Telstra Energy. Before the proponent transfer to Yarrowyck Environmental Projects Pty Limited in April 2025, Telstra used the site to trial advanced carbon farming technologies. This included a partnership with AirSeed to utilize drones for planting over 150,000 seed pods, as well as the deployment of IoT sensors to monitor environmental conditions and tree health. The project was designed not only for carbon sequestration but also to demonstrate the viability of tech-enabled reforestation for corporate climate action.