Pilbara Restoration project (Revoked)

The Pilbara Restoration project (Revoked) was an environmental planting initiative located approximately 45 kilometers east of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Registered in October 2016 and covering nearly 1,600 hectares, the project was situated in a remote area dominated by pastoral grazing and mining operations.

The project operated under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings - FullCAM methodology. This method generally requires planting native tree species at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover on land previously used for agricultural purposes. In this specific instance, the project utilized the FullCAM model to estimate carbon sequestration rather than direct field measurements, aiming to establish permanent mixed-species vegetation native to the local area.

The environmental conditions in this part of the Pilbara are harsh, classified as semi-arid to arid. The region experiences very high temperatures and irregular rainfall, often driven by summer cyclones. The soils are typically red sandy loams (Pindan) or stony earths, which traditionally support spinifex grasslands and scattered wattle or eucalypt woodlands.

A notable aspect of this project is the significant disparity between its registered land area and its contractual ambitions. While the project area was approximately 1,600 hectares, the proponent, Pilbara Carbon Group Pty Ltd, held a carbon abatement contract (CAC178664) committed to delivering 4,000,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). This volume is exceptionally high for the registered land size, suggesting plans for massive expansion or aggregation that never materialized. Ultimately, the project was revoked in April 2018 under Section 30 of the CFI Rule, typically indicating a voluntary revocation, and the contract was terminated without any credits being issued.