Bredbo Restoration Project

The Bredbo Restoration Project is an environmental planting initiative located approximately 3km southeast of the small township of Bredbo in the Snowy Monaro region of New South Wales. Registered in January 2023, the project covers 54.5 hectares of land that was previously used for agriculture. The surrounding Monaro High Country is a distinct plateau region characterized by its rolling, treeless plains and a history of sheep and cattle grazing.

Environmental planting projects under the FullCAM method involve establishing permanent plantings of native tree species, typically at a density sufficient to reach forest cover (generally defined as at least 200 stems per hectare). This specific project utilizes the "Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings" methodology to model carbon sequestration.

The Bredbo region lies within a rain shadow, resulting in a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 500-600mm. The soils in this area are typically derived from granite and sedimentary rocks, often resulting in sandy, gritty topsoils that are fragile and prone to erosion.

A notable feature of this project is its partnership with AirSeed Technologies, a company specializing in drone-based planting. The project aims to restore an "otherwise treeless landscape" by returning native eucalyptus and wattle trees to the site. Beyond carbon sequestration, the project creates a habitat refuge for local wildlife and serves as a testing ground for erosion control techniques in the degradation-prone Monaro soils.