Amberlong Environmental Plantings Pilot Project Carbon + Biodiversity R2 1412

Amberlong Environmental Plantings Pilot Project Carbon + Biodiversity R2 1412 is an environmental planting project located in the Riverina region of New South Wales, approximately 25 kilometers north of Wagga Wagga. Registered in May 2023, the project covers a small area of 13.25 hectares on land previously used for agriculture. The surrounding Riverina region is a major food-producing area characterized by mixed farming operations, including broadacre cropping and livestock grazing.

This project operates under the Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot (Round 2), a specialized Australian Government initiative designed to reward farmers for increasing on-farm biodiversity alongside carbon sequestration. As an environmental planting project, it involves establishing a permanent mix of native tree and shrub species, strictly sourced from the local area, on land that has been clear of forest for at least five years. The planting is designed to reach a forest cover density of over 200 stems per hectare, providing habitat for native wildlife while generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

The local environment experiences a temperate to semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 500-600mm. The soil in this area typically consists of red earths and clay loams, which are productive for agriculture but also support robust native vegetation regeneration. By participating in the Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot, the proponents (Alice and Peter Gwozdecky) likely receive biodiversity stewardship payments in addition to carbon credits, incentivizing the creation of high-quality, diverse habitats rather than simple monoculture plantations.