Willow Glen Reforestation Initiative

Willow Glen Reforestation Initiative is an environmental planting project located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, situated near the locality of Trunkey Creek, approximately 60km south of Bathurst and 45km south of Blayney. Registered in August 2024, the project covers 175.69 hectares of land that was previously dedicated to agricultural use.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings methodology, which involves establishing permanent native forests on land where such vegetation has been suppressed for at least five years. The planting protocols typically require a stocking density sufficient to achieve forest cover, generally defined as a potential height of at least two meters and 20% crown cover, often exceeding 200 stems per hectare. By utilizing the FullCAM model, the project calculates carbon abatement based on the modeled growth of these specific mixed-species plantings over time.

Geographically, the site lies within a cool temperate zone characterized by the undulating hills of the Abercrombie River catchment. The region typically experiences reliable rainfall, averaging between 700mm and 800mm annually, which supports robust pasture and timber growth. The soils in this area are predominantly Chromosols and Kurosols, texture-contrast soils featuring loam topsoils over acidic clay subsoils, which are common throughout the Southern Slopes and Tablelands.

This initiative represents a land-use shift from historical grazing or cropping to conservation forestry. By reintroducing native tree species local to the area, the project aims to restore biodiversity and improve soil stability while generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). The specific selection of "permanent mixed-species" indicates a focus on ecological restoration rather than monoculture plantation, enhancing the property's resilience and habitat value for local wildlife.