Top Yarraman EMP Pilot

Top Yarraman EMP Pilot is an environmental planting project located on the "Top Yarraman" property, approximately 14km northeast of the village of Bigga in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. Registered in September 2024, the project covers nearly 78 hectares of land within the Upper Lachlan Shire. The region is traditionally a high-value agricultural area, renowned for its reliable climate and "high-rainfall" grazing operations that support Merino sheep and cattle breeding.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM methodology. This involves establishing permanent plantings of mixed native tree species on land that has been used for agricultural purposes for at least five years prior. To meet the requirements, the proponent must plant local native species at densities sufficient to achieve forest cover, defined as a canopy cover of at least 20% and a height of at least 2 metres. The carbon sequestered by these trees is calculated using the FullCAM model, providing a stream of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) over a 25-year crediting period.

Environmentally, the Bigga region is characterized by a temperate climate with reliable rainfall, often exceeding 700mm annually, which supports the fertile soils found on the property. The soil landscape in the Southern Slopes often features Chromosols and granitic loams, which are productive for both pasture and native vegetation. An interesting note is that the host property, Top Yarraman, is a well-established grazing estate that was sold in 2020; the integration of this carbon project illustrates a growing trend of combining traditional high-production livestock farming with carbon sequestration activities.