Tharlane Reforestation Project

The Tharlane Reforestation Project is a permanent environmental planting initiative located approximately 20 kilometers south-west of Wee Waa in the Narrabri Shire of New South Wales. Registered in August 2023, the project initially covered an area of nearly 200 hectares, though recent variations in August 2024 have adjusted the project boundary to exclude certain areas. The site is situated off Tharlane Road, an area historically associated with mixed agricultural activities including grazing and cropping.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings, FullCAM) methodology. This involves establishing native trees and shrubs on land that has been clear of forest cover for at least five years and was previously used for agriculture. To meet the requirements of a block planting under this method, the proponent, Permagen Planting Management Pty Ltd, must typically maintain a stocking density of at least 200 stems per hectare to ensure the vegetation reaches "forest cover" status (2 meters height and 20% canopy cover).

The region surrounding Wee Waa lies within the Namoi Valley, a major agricultural hub known for cotton, wheat, and cattle production. The environment is characterized by a semi-arid to warm temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 500–600mm. The soils in this specific part of the Lower Namoi are predominantly heavy cracking clays (black vertosols), which are highly fertile but prone to significant swelling and shrinking during wet and dry cycles.