Biodiverse Carbon Conservation

Biodiverse Carbon Conservation is an environmental planting project located in the locality of Boxwood Hill, approximately 25km south of the town of Jerramungup in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Registered in April 2015, the project covers a substantial area of 771 hectares. The project operates within the Shire of Jerramungup, a region traditionally dominated by broadacre cropping (canola and cereals) and livestock grazing.

The project utilizes the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology. This involves establishing permanent plantings of native tree species, such as Mallee eucalypts, on land that has been cleared of forest for agricultural use for at least five years. Unlike methods that require direct physical measurement of trees, this methodology uses the FullCAM model (a government calculation tool) to estimate carbon sequestration based on the specific species planted, the location's climate data, and management activities.

The environment in this part of the Great Southern region typically experiences a Mediterranean climate with rainfall in the range of 400mm to 500mm, heavily weighted toward winter. The soils in the Jerramungup/Boxwood Hill area are often characterized as "duplex" soils, typically sandy or gravelly loams over clay subsoils. In some local contexts, these can include "Moort" clays, which are hard-setting and can be challenging for traditional agriculture, making them well-suited for revegetation projects that improve soil stability.

A notable aspect of this project is its commercial maturity; the project successfully completed its Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC178523) with the Australian Government, meaning it has delivered the full volume of carbon credits (ACCUs) it originally promised to the Clean Energy Regulator. The proponent, Canopy Nature Based Solutions (formerly associated with Australian Integrated Carbon), is an arm of Greening Australia, indicating a focus on high-integrity plantings that prioritize biodiversity co-benefits alongside carbon sequestration.