CNCF Biodiverse Sandalwood

CNCF Biodiverse Sandalwood is a farm forestry project located in the Shire of Mount Marshall, Western Australia, with planting sites situated near the towns of Bencubbin and Beacon, approximately 270 to 300km northeast of Perth. Registered in April 2018, the project covers a total area of 887 hectares. The project operates on land previously cleared for agriculture, specifically integrating native sandalwood plantations into the existing wheat and sheep farming landscape of the WA Wheatbelt.

The project utilises the "Measurement Based Methods for New Farm Forestry Plantations" methodology. Unlike permanent environmental plantings where vegetation is protected indefinitely, this method allows for the commercial harvest of timber and other tree products while crediting the carbon stored during the growth cycle. In this specific case, the proponent, Carbon Positive Australia (formerly the Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund), has established mixed-species plantations of Santalum spicatum (native sandalwood) and host trees such as Acacia (wattles) and Allocasuarina. As sandalwood is a hemiparasite, it requires these host trees to survive. The model allows for the harvest of valuable sandalwood nuts and timber once the trees reach maturity, typically around 25 years, providing an economic incentive alongside carbon sequestration.

The region is characterised by a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Annual rainfall is low, typically averaging between 300mm and 350mm. The landscape features the ancient, deeply weathered soils typical of the Wheatbelt, ranging from sandplains and ironstone gravels to loamy duplex soils. These conditions are historically native to Santalum spicatum, making the species well-suited to the restoration of these degraded agricultural soils.

Carbon Positive Australia, a registered charity, manages the project with a focus on biodiversity and community engagement. The planting design uses a ratio of approximately 30% sandalwood to 70% host species to mimic natural woodlands. The project has involved partnerships with local groups, including the Noongar Boodja Rangers, to assist with seed collection and planting, thereby generating local employment and supporting Indigenous land management practices.