Carbon Conscious Carbon Capture Project 1

Carbon Conscious Carbon Capture Project 1 is a significant reforestation initiative located across the Central and Northern Agricultural Regions of the Western Australian Wheatbelt. The project is an aggregation of multiple sites dispersed over a vast area, with properties situated near towns such as Moora, Koorda, Mukinbudin, and extending north towards Northampton and east to Yilgarn. Registered in September 2013, the project covers a total area of approximately 6,979 hectares.

The region is historically dominated by extensive dryland cropping (wheat, canola) and sheep grazing. Consequently, the landscape is characterized by a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with rainfall generally ranging between 250mm and 400mm annually. The soils in this area are typical of the Wheatbelt, consisting largely of sandy loams, gravelly sands, and duplex soils, which can be prone to salinity and wind erosion when cleared.

The project operates under the "Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings" methodology, utilizing the FullCAM model to estimate carbon sequestration. The specific activities involve the permanent planting of Mallee eucalypt species. Mallee trees are distinctively multi-stemmed and are well-suited to the region's low rainfall; they are frequently planted in belts to provide shelter for livestock, reduce soil salinity by lowering the water table, and combat wind erosion, all while generating carbon credits.

An interesting aspect of this project is its long operational history, with initial planting activities dating back to 2009-2010 under the precursor company Carbon Conscious (now Alterra Limited), before the project was transferred to the dedicated entity ACCU Asset Management Pty Ltd. The project successfully secured and completed a carbon abatement contract (CAC194219) with the Australian Government, delivering over 110,000 ACCUs by May 2021. Furthermore, the project has attracted voluntary market buyers, such as carpet manufacturer Godfrey Hirst, who utilized offsets from this project to support their carbon-neutral certification.