Boloco Reforestation Project

Boloco Reforestation Project is an environmental planting project located in the Snowy River region near Beloka, a short drive from the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales. The project was registered in July 2024 and covers an area of 972.50 hectares. The region's land use is characterised by large-scale agricultural enterprises, predominantly sheep and cattle grazing on native and improved pastures.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings, FullCAM methodology. Environmental planting projects involve establishing permanent, mixed-species native trees and shrubs on land that has been predominantly used for agricultural purposes for at least five years prior to commencement. To satisfy the standard requirements of this methodology, these plantings must be established at a sufficient stem density to eventually achieve forest cover, which is defined as a tree canopy of at least 20% and a height of at least 2 metres.

The environment in the Beloka and broader Monaro plains area typically experiences highly variable, moderate rainfall (averaging around 550mm annually) due to its position in the rain shadow of the Snowy Mountains. Soils across this undulating landscape are generally a mix of granite-derived red gradational soils (Dermosols) and Palaeozoic sediments, with some basalt influence and silty clay loams common in the valleys.

An interesting note about this project is that it is purposefully integrated with existing agricultural businesses. Developed in partnership with Permagen Planting Management Pty Ltd, the project showcases the potential for blending carbon farming with traditional rural land use. The native trees are viewed as highly-productive assets offering stable cash flows over the longer-term, serving as an attractive model for nature-based carbon investments in regional New South Wales.