'Thiaki Rainforest Restoration

Thiaki Rainforest Restoration is an environmental planting project located on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland, approximately 20km south of the town of Atherton. Registered in June 2014, the project covers a 44.65-hectare active project area.

Environmental planting projects governed by the 2012 CFI Reforestation Modelling Tool methodology involve establishing permanent plantings of a mix of locally native tree species on land that has been historically cleared of forest for at least five years prior to commencement. These plantings are modelled and managed to achieve a minimum tree density and height capable of forming a permanent native forest canopy cover to sequester carbon.

The project is situated in the uplands of the Wet Tropics rainforest bioregion. The Atherton Tablelands area is historically known for intense dairy farming, cattle grazing, and forestry operations. The project site itself comprises former pastureland with steep slopes that was initially cleared in the 1940s and planted with exotic grasses for continuous grazing. The region is characterised by a lightly seasonal, high-rainfall climate, typically receiving between 1,500 and 2,000 mm of rain annually. The local soil profile consists of deep, rich volcanic red earths that support rapid rainforest growth.

A highly notable aspect of this project is its rigorous scientific research and biodiversity focus. Operated by BIOME 5 PTY LTD, the carbon project sits on a larger 180-hectare property containing 130 hectares of highly valuable intact rainforest. Since 2010, the cleared paddocks have served as a live experimental demonstration site, engaging multiple universities and receiving ARC grant funding, to test cost-effective rainforest restoration techniques, variable planting densities, and species diversity. The replanted area provides critical habitat and landscape connectivity for endemic Wet Tropics species, including tree-kangaroos, rainforest possums, and native birds. Because of these robust, verifiable environmental co-benefits, Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated from this project are highly sought after by corporate buyers and have historically commanded a market premium. Additionally, the project's initial carbon abatement contract (CAC102306) with the government was successfully completed in August 2018.