Trees that pay their way: Environmental planting success stories in NSW
Taking a look at how two NSW farmers are making trees work for their land, livestock and future.
Planting trees to capture atmospheric carbon doesn’t have to mean giving up productive land. The right trees in the right places can also deliver long-term financial, environmental and practical benefits.
Here, we look at two success stories from NSW’s climate and energy programmes. Both projects are Mallee tree plantings designed to store carbon, improve farm conditions and open up new income streams.
Making trees part of the farm
West Wyalong: Watch the video
Dan Simmons manages a sheep and cattle property near West Wyalong. When he bought the land, it already had environmental plantings of Mallee trees, established under a carbon project with CO2 Australia.
Rather than seeing them as a limitation, Dan has worked them into his farm planning. The trees provide valuable shade and shelter for his livestock, especially during extreme weather. They also reduce wind erosion and help protect soil health across the property.
Integrating the trees hasn’t been without its challenges though. Fencing proved necessary to keep livestock off the younger saplings, and it took time to understand how to graze animals around them effectively. However, the future is looking positive, as Dan explains:
“Those trees have become part of the farm, just like the livestock. They serve a purpose, and they’re here to stay.”
The trees are not only building resilience and improving land use, but also created a future income stream.
Why it worked
Tree layout allows rotational grazing: The plantings were spaced to allow livestock to move through paddocks as usual, while also giving them shade and shelter. They’ve added value without taking land out of use.
Ongoing work keeps the project on track: The project has been actively managed with fencing, monitoring and rotational grazing of livestock.
Long-term gains outweigh short-term challenges: Although it took time and effort to get things working smoothly, the pay-offs are worth it.
Planting for future generations
Condobolin: Watch the video
Fourth generation farmer Roger Todd runs a 3,500-hectare mixed operation near Condobolin. After seeing signs of land degradation, he decided to take action by planting over 700 hectares of Mallee trees to protect the soil and diversify his land use.
Another key motivation was to create a new income stream, by qualifying for reforestation carbon credits. The trees are now capturing carbon, generating credits and giving parts of the property a new lease of life.
But it wasn’t just about offsets. Roger sees tree planting as a way to manage less productive areas of his land, increase biodiversity and invest in long-term sustainability. He’s also noticed a shift in how the farm handles dry seasons with more shade, better ground cover, and less pressure on pasture:
“We’re not just planting trees for us, we’re planting them for the next 100 years”.
Why it worked
Trees were planted where cropping didn’t make sense: Roger used areas that weren’t suitable for crop farming, meaning there was no big trade-off in productivity.
Project was set up right from the start: Planning, advice and support early on made the whole project run more smoothly.
Thinking long-term: This wasn’t a quick fix. Roger saw the plantings as a long-term investment in the land.
Lessons from the land, what other farmers can learn
Both Dan and Roger have shown how environmental plantings can add value beyond carbon credits. When planned well, they can:
Be better for livestock and the land: The trees provide improved shelter and improve soil conditions over time.
Have less erosion and more stable soil: Plantings help keep the ground covered, and reduce both wind and water damage.
Work with the whole farm plan: Planning a carbon project that complements how the property is already being managed is key.
Both case studies highlight the need for practical support, such as fencing, maintenance and a clear understanding of how carbon projects work. For landholders thinking about tree planting, these success stories offer a simple message: it’s not just about offsets, it’s about building a better, more resilient farm.
Interested to learn more about soil carbon projects, check out From paddocks to payments: Soil carbon in practice
References
NSW Climate and Energy Action Environmental plantings: Learn from existing projects.
Sourced from https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/business-and-industry/programs-grants-and-schemes/primary-industries-productivity-and-abatement/learn-from-existing-projects/environmental-plantings
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Want to know more?
Check out Dig it or plant it? Choosing the right carbon offset path, a closer look at pros and cons of tree planting versus soil carbon projects.
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