Karinya Downs Nature Repair Market project

Client: 24 Degree Forest
Industry Sector: Land Management
Service: Nature Advisory, Nature Repair Market
Location: Karinya Downs, Northern Rivers, NSW

About this Project

Karinya Downs is the second project registered under the Australian Government’s new Nature Repair Market (NRM). Niche was engaged by project developer 24 Degree Forest to deliver biodiversity assessment and advisory to support the project.

This is 20 hectare project on Bundjalung country, near Doon Doon in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. It will involve planting rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest to restore and connect bushland on the property with the adjoining Nightcap National Park, strengthening critical habitat and foraging availability for animals like koalas and long-nosed potoroos.

The project demonstrates how nature repair, carbon projects and agriculture can complement eachother on the same property.

Biodiversity expert in an emerging market

Niche is the only biodiversity consultancy with experience in the NRM methodology, having delivered the biodiversity expertise underpinning the only two registered projects.

Niche’s team of ecologists, natural capital advisors and spatial experts delivered the technical biodiversity expertise and fieldwork that underpins the Karinya Downs project.

Building on 24 Degree Forest’s vision to plant high density forests with real ecological outcomes, Niche undertook the project design, on ground Starting State Assessment, completed the Site Assessment Report and provided guidance and technical input on the Project Plan.

This work included conducting preliminary assessments, baseline surveys, data analysis, reporting and managing the registration process with the Clean Energy Regulator.

Enhancing biodiversity on the property

Karinya Downs Wet Sclerophyll Forest and Rainforest Restoration project is covered by the Replanting Native forests and woodland ecosystems (Methodology Determination) 2025. The biodiversity outcome for this project is to enhance or protect biodiversity in native species by replanting native forest and woodland ecosystems in the project area on historically cleared land in modified landscapes in a way that will improve the extent and condition of native vegetation or support ecological connectivity.

Key features of the project include:

  • restoration of wet sclerophyll forest and rainforest ecosystems
  • targeted work across steep slopes, riparian zones and gullies on a cattle stud
  • establishing 50,000 native plants to enhance and reconnect native vegetation
  • located on same parcel of land as an Australian Carbon Credit Unit Scheme project
  • integrating biodiversity outcomes and carbon farming with productive agricultural land use.

Learn more

  • Betha Westall BEnvSc, BGS

    Associate – Natural Capital

    Read More

  • Simon Tweed BEnvSc (Hons), Accredited BAM Assessor

    Manager – Natural Capital Strategy

    Read More