Montdown Tree Farms Plantation Project (Revoked)

Montdown Tree Farms Plantation Project (Revoked) was a plantation forestry project located near the locality of Copping, approximately 45km east of Hobart in Tasmania. Registered in May 2018, the project covered a 204-hectare area in a region characterized by mixed agricultural land use, primarily consisting of grazing and forestry operations.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2017. Specifically, it utilized the "short-term to long-term rotation" activity. This method involves altering the management of an existing plantation, typically one harvested frequently for low-value products like pulpwood, to a longer rotation cycle for high-value products like sawlogs. By extending the growth period of the trees, the project aims to retain carbon in the forest biomass for a longer duration than the baseline scenario.

The Copping region experiences a cool temperate climate with moderate rainfall, generally falling between 600mm and 800mm annually, which is sufficient to support commercial timber plantations like Eucalyptus nitens or Eucalyptus globulus. The soils in this part of south-east Tasmania are often classified as Chromosols (texture-contrast soils with sand over clay) or Dermosols, which are well-suited to forestry but can require careful management to prevent erosion.

The project encountered difficulties and was revoked under section 30 of the CFI Rule on June 16, 2021, meaning the proponent voluntarily withdrew the project, or it was cancelled at their request. Prior to this, the project held a Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC924034) with the Australian Government to sell carbon credits, but this contract was terminated or lapsed in January 2021.