Land Connection Program at Toby's

Land Connection Program at Toby's is a reforestation project located in the rugged hinterland of the Upper Hunter region in New South Wales. Situated approximately 60 kilometres east of Scone and 60 kilometres northwest of Gloucester, the project sits in the remote Curricabark area, bordering the northern edges of the Barrington Tops National Park. Registered in March 2023, the project covers a substantial area of 592 hectares. The region is traditionally defined by steep grazing country and forestry operations, often utilized for cattle on the cleared lower slopes and valleys.

The project operates under the "Environmental Plantings" methodology, which involves establishing permanent forest cover using native species on land that was previously cleared for agriculture, in this case, for at least five years prior to registration. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the planting must achieve specific forest cover thresholds, typically requiring a stocking density of at least 200 stems per hectare to ensure the trees reach a height of 2 metres and canopy cover of 20%.

Environmentally, this area benefits from the orographic rainfall influence of the nearby Barrington Tops, placing it in a moderate-to-high rainfall zone compared to the western plains. The soils in this mountainous terrain are likely a mix of colluvial loams and clays derived from the ancient volcanic and sedimentary bedrock of the region.

An interesting aspect of the project is the involvement of Nikki Cronyn, who has been associated with Covalent Land Australia, suggesting a professional management structure behind the "D-CARBON FORESTS" proponent entity. The project name "Land Connection Program" implies a potential focus on broader ecological restoration or social engagement beyond simple carbon sequestration.