RJ Russell Reforestation Project (Revoked)

RJ Russell Reforestation Project (Revoked) is a reforestation and afforestation project located in the Shire of Jerramungup, roughly 180km northeast of the major regional city of Albany in Western Australia. It was registered in July 2015 and covers an area of 916.78 hectares.

The project falls under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation and Afforestation-1.2) Methodology. This type of project involves establishing permanent plantings of native or introduced tree species on land that has been historically clear of forest. To earn carbon credits, these standard methodologies require trees to be planted at an appropriate stocking density to eventually achieve a forest canopy cover of at least 20% and reach a minimum height of two metres.

The Jerramungup area is heavily dominated by agriculture, primarily focused on wheat cropping and sheep grazing for wool production, and is historically known as a soldier settlement region. The local environment experiences a Mediterranean climate with semi-arid to moderate rainfall, typically receiving between 400mm and 450mm annually. Soils in the district consist largely of sandy duplex soils, as well as red-brown loams and clays. These soils are known to occasionally be prone to waterlogging, wind erosion, and dryland salinity issues.

This specific project aimed to establish permanent plantings of various eucalypt species, specifically highlighting Eucalyptus cladocalyx (Sugar Gum) and Eucalyptus occidentalis (Flat-topped Yate), to restore land previously used for agriculture. The project proponent, R.J. Russell Nominees Pty Ltd, is a local corporate entity tied directly to the Jerramungup region. Ultimately, the project was revoked on April 23, 2018, under section 32(1) of the CFI Rule.