National parks represent one of the largest forest carbon stores in New South Wales. Forests and vegetation pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and store it as carbon. This carbon lasts for years in living trees and then takes a long time to be released through decomposition.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is the custodian of over 40% of all forest carbon in New South Wales – approximately 900 megatonnes. Providing secure, long-term protection for these carbon stores is vital to managing climate change risk.
We have committed to increasing our carbon stores and reaching the target of carbon positive by 2028. This means that, by 2028, we will be sequestering more carbon than we emit from our operational activities.
One of the ways we are achieving this target is by implementing the carbon program, which will deliver carbon sequestration projects across the park estate through a range of activities, including:
- regeneration and restoration of vegetation
- feral animal control
- other land management practices that help increase carbon sequestration.
Our carbon program
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service currently has 3 carbon sequestration projects registered under the Clean Energy Regulator Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme. To earn carbon credits, a project must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in section 27 of the (Carbon Credits [Carbon Farming Initiative] Act 2011) and be consistent with an approved Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme carbon sequestration method.
Each carbon project is designed and managed to enhance vegetation growth, achieve native forest regeneration, and ensure that carbon sequestration is consistent with biodiversity conservation. The current methods adopted are:
- Human-induced regeneration – encouraging natural regeneration of native forests through pest management and feral animal control
- Environmental planting – involves strategic planting of trees to establish native forest.
Our carbon projects have a permanence period of 100 years, which means the carbon stored by a project must be maintained for 100 years. Each project is eligible to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (carbon credits) over its 25-year crediting period. This means that, from the date a project is registered under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme, the project can generate carbon credits for 25 years.
Each carbon credit represents one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). Carbon credits generated from our carbon projects may be relinquished to offset the agency's emissions that cannot be eliminated or avoided. Alternatively, the carbon credits may be sold to generate revenue for park management directly to the Australian Government or companies and other private buyers in the secondary market, to generate revenue for park management.
Carbon sequestration projects on national parks
Koonaburra human-induced regeneration project
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service purchased Koonaburra Station in western New South Wales, 95 kilometres north-east of Ivanhoe, in 2021. The Koonaburra carbon project was registered under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme in October 2021.
The project uses the human-induced regeneration carbon farming method to achieve forest cover by conducting eligible activities that encourage natural regeneration of Australian native species from on-site seed sources. The increased vegetation stores additional carbon and generates carbon credits.
In Koonaburra National Park, regeneration is encouraged through feral animal management (aerial control of feral goats and pigs, ground mustering of goats, and fencing works).
| Project name | Koonaburra human-induced regeneration project |
|---|---|
| ACCU Scheme method | Human-induced regeneration |
| Local government area | Cobar |
| Project area size | 12,754 hectares |
| Registration date | 8 October 2021 |
| Crediting period | 25 years from project commencement (to 8 October 2046) |
| Permanence period | 100 years from the first offsets report (to 30 June 2123) |
Brindingabba carbon project
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service purchased Brindingabba Station, located 150 kilometres north-west of Bourke, in 2022. The property had an existing Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme carbon project, which we have taken over managing. The project was first registered in 2015.
The project uses the human-induced regeneration carbon farming method to achieve forest cover by carrying out eligible activities that encourage natural regeneration of Australian native tree species from on-site seed sources. The increased vegetation stores additional carbon and can generate carbon credits. Regeneration is encouraged through feral animal management (aerial control and fencing works).
| Name | Brindingabba carbon project |
|---|---|
| ACCU Scheme method | Human-induced regeneration |
| Local government area | Bourke |
| Project area size (ha) | 33,904 hectares |
| Registration date | 5 June 2015 |
| Crediting period | 25 years from project commencement (to 1 January 2037) |
| Permanence period | 100 years from the first offsets report (to 10 November 2115) |
The environmental plantings project was registered under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme in 2016. There are 16 planting sites involved in the pilot project, including:
- Kosciuszko National Park
- Brindabella National Park
- Willi Willi National Park
- Everlasting Swamp National Park
- Capertree National Park
- Hat Head National Park
- Kiwambal National Park
- Lachlan Valley National Park
- Yanga National Park
- Cattai National Park
- Tinderry National Park
- Arakoola Nature Reserve
- Gwydir Wetlands State Conservation Area
- Monga State Conservation Area.
The project uses the environmental plantings carbon farming method, which involves planting or seeding a mixture of native species to establish forest on land previously used for predominantly agricultural purposes. The regenerating forest captures and stores carbon in the landscape, producing carbon credits.
| Name | Environmental plantings project |
|---|---|
| ACCU Scheme method | Environmental plantings |
| Local government area | Snowy Monaro Regional, Yass Valley, Kempsey, Clarence Valley, City of Lithgow, Inverell Shire, Lachlan Shire, Balranald Shire, Hills Shire, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Moree Plains Shire, and Eurobodalla Shire |
| Project area size (ha) | 1,017.54 hectares (total) |
| Registration date | 26 April 2016 |
| Crediting period | 25 years from project commencement (26 April 2041) |
| Permanence period | 100 years from first offsets report (to 29 November 2120) |