Doyles River Koala Habitat Environmental Plantings Project

Doyles River Koala Habitat Environmental Plantings Project is an environmental planting project located in the hinterland region of Doyles River, approximately 70km west of Port Macquarie and 50km west of Wauchope in New South Wales. Registered on October 9, 2023, the project covers a substantial area of 123.19 hectares.

Environmental planting projects under the Carbon Farming Initiative involve establishing permanent plantings of mixed native tree species on land that has been cleared of forest for at least five years. These plantings are typically established at densities (often exceeding 200 stems per hectare) sufficient to achieve a "forest cover" status, defined as having the potential to reach 20% crown cover and a height of at least 2 meters.

The Doyles River region is characterized by its rugged terrain near the Great Dividing Range and is traditionally utilized for cattle grazing and forestry operations. The environment is classified as high rainfall, with local data suggesting annual precipitation often exceeds 900mm, supporting lush vegetation. The soils in this Mid North Coast hinterland are typically structured loams and clays derived from the ancient geological formations of the scarp.

A distinguishing feature of this project is its explicit focus on biodiversity, indicated by the inclusion of "Koala Habitat" in its title. Situated near protected areas such as Tapin Tops National Park, the project likely aims to restore critical corridors for the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) by regenerating native forest on former agricultural land, thereby delivering significant ecological co-benefits alongside carbon sequestration.