The Sisters Grassy Woodlands Restoration

The Sisters Grassy Woodlands Project: Protecting a Rare Remnant of the Monaro

We’re proud to announce the launch of our latest restoration initiative: The Sisters Grassy Woodlands Project. Located on a 215-hectare property in Dry Plain, New South Wales, this site lies within one of the most ecologically significant — and threatened — grassland regions in Australia.

Thanks to decades of light stocking and good management, The Sisters has largely avoided the weed infestations that have overwhelmed much of the southeast. As a result, it retains a substantial area of native grassland with exceptionally high conservation value. Our project is focused on protecting this remnant grassland and expanding adjacent grassy woodland ecosystems to enhance biodiversity, and achieve long-term carbon sequestration.

Restoring the Critically Endangered Monaro Grasslands

The Monaro grasslands are among the most heavily altered ecosystems in the country. According to researchers at UNSW, just 0.5% of their original extent remains in good condition. The Sisters is part of that rare remnant, supporting a remarkable array of native species — including the endangered Monaro grassland earless dragon and rare forbs like the mauve burr daisy and silky swainson pea.

To protect and improve this landscape, we’ve removed grazing pressure from the grasslands, undertaken feral goat control, and implemented ongoing monitoring for invasive weeds. Targeted management interventions ensure that native plants and pollinators have space to recover and persist.

Rebuilding Grassy Woodlands

Much of the property’s higher ground was historically cleared, but enough remnant vegetation remains to guide restoration. We are now preparing to re-establish native grassy woodlands to buffer the core grassland areas and reduce the risk of weed incursion from surrounding properties.

Our planting design includes a diverse mix of endemic eucalypts and acacias, with a focus on snow gums and mountain gums — iconic species of the region that once defined this landscape.

Generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs)

The project has been registered with the Clean Energy Regulator to classify the woodland restoration under the Environmental Plantings methodology of the ACCU scheme. This will enable the project to generate carbon credits by sequestering atmospheric carbon through long-term tree and shrub establishment — while delivering substantial biodiversity co-benefits.

Learn More

The Sisters is a demonstration of how carbon and conservation can go hand in hand. If you’d like to learn more about our restoration work — or explore ways to support or partner with the project — we’d love to hear from you.