By Carmel Herington (originally posted 12 June 2025)

When the Carbon Market Institute brought its National Conference to Lennox Head in May, Forest Farm was honoured to host delegates for a pre-conference field trip.

It was a rare and meaningful opportunity to show how carbon and conservation work on the ground by showcasing our Forest Farm carbon project and Accounting for Nature Environmental Account.

Field day conference delegates listening to Ben talk about Accounting for Nature (Photo: Forest Farm)

After acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land – the Nyangbal People of the Bundjalung Nation, Ben did a wonderful introduction and brief history of our achievements in terms of transitioning the remnant plantation to a carbon project. We explained the inhouse talent we possess in order to be able to achieve this. Ben is our bush regen and land management expert and handles everything practical with the property. Matt is our technical expert without whose knowledge and expertise we would be on a different path with the property.

Ben introduces Forest Farm to the CMI delegates (Photo: CMI)

Carbon as a pathway to conservation

Our decision to retain and restore forested land, rather than return to grazing, was guided by both ecological and long-term land stewardship principles that we at Forest Farm hold dearly. Choosing not to harvest the plantation and instead restore the forest was a deliberate, values-based decision. For us, it wasn’t just about carbon – it was about restoring ecological function, supporting biodiversity, and reconnecting with the land in a meaningful, long-term way. And that has led to us being able to pursue natural capital outcomes for the environment, which suits our conservation hearts rather nicely.

Measuring high integrity with Environmental Accounting

During our walk through a very small part of Forest Farm, Ben also talked about our recent certification with Accounting for Nature using the koala method. This enables us to demonstrate high integrity for our project, as we now have a base line for both koala population and habitat condition within a designated project area which includes the carbon project area.

Climate change offers Blue Carbon opportunities

Patrick Dwyer from DPI was also invited by the CMI to come and talk about blue carbon, so it was a nice opportunity to be able to stop along the bank of Emigrant Creek to listen to Patrick speak. We learned about what happens with wetland areas and challenges and opportunities for carbon projects, especially as we have to contend with sea level rise in lower lying areas. 

Patrick Dwyer from DPI explaining blue carbon (Photo: CMI)

Koala plays hide and seek

Our resident male koala, Kevin, was spotted on the Monday evening when Emily and Claire from the CMI came for a pre-visit, right near where we would be taking the delegates on the walk. And whilst we could see him in a nearby tree early on the morning on the day of the field trip, he went into hiding while everyone was here, making an appearance again during the late afternoon media visit. Kevin can be tricky like that!

Kevin is somewhere up to the right of the picture, playing hide and seek (Photo: Forest Farm)

Thank you to the CMI for the opportunity to showcase Forest Farm. It was wonderful to meet so many people interested in finding out about carbon projects on the ground. We know that we are a little bit unique. We love what we are doing in terms of transitioning the plantation timbers into native forest, providing renewed habitat for koalas, protecting beautiful wetlands and rainforests, and creating a biodiverse sanctuary on 112 hectares of north coast natural paradise. It’s very rewarding and it feels like we are making the best contribution we can to the environment and humanity.

We hope that everyone enjoyed their time at Forest Farm, and we welcome anyone who was present to make contact with us and maybe even return for a visit sometime in the future.