Tram, Wedderburn

Tram, Wedderburn is a permanent environmental planting project located approximately 14km east of the township of Wedderburn in central Victoria. Registered in March 2014, the project covers a 258.27 hectare area that borders the Mount Korong Nature Conservation Reserve. The site, known locally as the "Tram" property, was purchased by Cassinia Environmental in 2009 and subsequently restored in partnership with Greenfleet.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings, FullCAM) Methodology Determination 2014. This methodology requires the establishment of permanent native forests on land that has been clear of forest cover for at least five years prior to commencement. The project activities involve planting a mix of species native to the local area, such as Gold Dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea) and Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), at a density sufficient to achieve forest canopy cover. Originally registered under a 2012 Mallee methodology, the project varied its method in 2015 to the broader 2014 Reforestation determination.

The Wedderburn region lies within the Loddon Shire, an area traditionally dominated by cereal cropping and sheep grazing. The environment is characterized by a semi-arid, temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 480mm. The terrain typically features shallow, stony soils on rising ground, consistent with the adjacent nature reserve, transitioning to red-brown clay loams and sodosols on the lower agricultural plains.

An interesting aspect of this project is its focus on biodiversity beyond simple carbon sequestration. Greenfleet reports that since seeding 250,000 trees on the property in 2010, the site has seen the return of significant wildlife, including Wedge-tailed Eagles and Lace Monitors. The project serves as a strategic corridor, reconnecting fragmented patches of remnant vegetation to the Mount Korong reserve, thereby enhancing habitat connectivity in a heavily cleared agricultural landscape.