Patches Flat Environmental Plantings Project

Patches Flat Environmental Plantings Project is an environmental planting project located in the locality of Bungawalbin, approximately 15 kilometers southwest of Coraki and south of Lismore in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Registered on December 15, 2022, the project covers a project area of roughly 66.87 hectares. The site is situated within the Richmond Valley Council area, a region traditionally characterized by diverse agricultural land uses including cattle grazing, tea tree production, and sugar cane farming on the lower floodplains.

The project operates under the "Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM" methodology. This involves establishing permanent plantings of mixed native tree species on land that was previously cleared and used for agriculture for at least five years. The goal is to sequester carbon by regenerating forest cover, with the planted trees required to reach a height of at least two meters and achieve a canopy cover of 20% or more. The "FullCAM" aspect refers to the use of the Full Carbon Accounting Model to estimate the carbon abatement over time based on the specific growth rates of the planted species in that location.

Environmentally, the Bungawalbin area experiences a humid subtropical climate with high annual rainfall, often exceeding 1,000mm, which supports rapid vegetation growth. The landscape in this vicinity typically features low-lying floodplains and flats associated with Bungawalbin Creek. Soils in the region are generally alluvial, ranging from clays to sandy loams, which can be prone to waterlogging but are highly fertile for supporting native forest regeneration. The proponent, Field and Flower Pty Ltd as Trustee for the Pritchett Family Trust, works in conjunction with carbon service provider Climate Friendly Pty Ltd to manage the project.