Tharlane Reforestation Project

The Tharlane Reforestation Project is a permanent environmental planting project located on the "Tharlane" property, approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Wee Waa in the Narrabri Shire of New South Wales. Registered in August 2023, the project initially covered a larger footprint but now spans approximately 199 hectares following a variation in August 2024. The site sits within the productive agricultural zone between Wee Waa and Burren Junction, a region heavily utilised for mixed farming including cattle grazing, cereal cropping, and cotton production.

The project operates under the "Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings" methodology. This involves establishing native tree species on land that has been cleared for agricultural use for at least five years. As an environmental planting project, the objective is to permanently sequester carbon by growing a mix of local native species, typically at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover (minimum 20% crown cover), without the intention of harvesting the timber. The "FullCAM" designation indicates that carbon abatement is modelled using the Australian Government's Full Carbon Accounting Model rather than through direct field measurements of every tree.

Environmentally, the site is situated in the Brigalow Belt South bioregion, which is characterised by fertile clay soils (often cracking Vertosols) and Red Chromosols. The area experiences a sub-humid to semi-arid climate with a summer-dominant rainfall pattern, averaging approximately 550mm to 600mm annually. Historical property listings for "Tharlane" describe it as "productive Brigalow country" with capabilities for both irrigation and dryland farming, highlighting the high agricultural value of the land being converted to conservation.

The project proponent, Permagen Planting Management Pty Ltd, is a carbon developer established by the founding team of the renewable energy company Genex Power. In 2024, the project underwent administrative changes, including a variation to the participant name and a reduction in the registered project area. Permagen typically partners with investment groups like Wollemi Capital to fund and manage high-integrity planting projects.