Fairholme Environmental Plantings Project

The Fairholme Environmental Plantings Project is a carbon sequestration initiative located in the locality of Fairholme, approximately 35 kilometers southeast of Condobolin in the Central West region of New South Wales. Registered in September 2024, the project covers approximately 255 hectares of land previously utilized for agriculture. The project is situated within the Lachlan Shire, a region heavily characterized by dryland cropping, primarily wheat, barley, and canola, and livestock grazing, reflecting the land use history of the project area prior to its conversion.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings - FullCAM methodology. This involves establishing permanent plantings of mixed native tree and shrub species on land that has been clear of forest cover for at least five years. The primary objective is to restore native vegetation to sequester carbon, which is modeled using the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) rather than direct field measurement. To meet the definition of "forest cover" under this scheme, the planting must be managed to achieve a height of at least 2 meters and a canopy cover of 20% across the carbon estimation areas. Notably, this project was registered shortly before the 2014 methodology expired in late September 2024, grandfathering it under the established rules.

Environmentally, the Fairholme region lies in a semi-arid transitional zone with an average annual rainfall of approximately 450mm. The terrain typically features flat to gently undulating plains with soils dominated by Red Chromosols (red-brown earths) and cracking clays, which are fertile but susceptible to erosion when vegetation cover is removed. These soil types are well-suited to the native species being reintroduced, which are selected to withstand the region's variable rainfall and hot summers.

An interesting aspect of this project is the involvement of Sara Schmude, a recognized specialist in natural capital and regenerative agriculture associated with Impact Ag Partners. Her participation suggests a high level of technical expertise in integrating carbon farming with broader land management strategies. Operational adjustments have already occurred; a variation filed in May 2025 removed specific areas from the project, a common practice to refine the Carbon Estimation Area (CEA) by excluding non-performing zones or existing vegetation.