2019 AGE CLASS, LIMESTONE PLANTATIONS

2019 AGE CLASS, LIMESTONE PLANTATIONS (ERF121710) is a plantation forestry project located in the West Wimmera Shire of Victoria, approximately 20km east of Penola (SA) and 40km northwest of Casterton. Registered in May 2018, the project covers approximately 1,258 hectares within the renowned "Green Triangle" forestry region. The project operates under the Carbon Farming Initiative - Plantation Forestry methodology, specifically focusing on the conversion of "short-rotation" plantations to "long-rotation" plantations.

The project area lies in a transition zone between the sandy soils of the Little Desert and the fertile, limestone-based "Terra Rossa" and sandy loam soils that characterize the Limestone Coast. The region enjoys reliable rainfall, typically ranging from 600mm to 800mm annually, which is critical for supporting the extensive Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata) and Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) estates found here. Land use in the immediate vicinity is dominated by commercial forestry and grazing (sheep and cattle), with the landscape featuring flat to undulating plains and seasonal wetlands.

The core activity of this project involves changing the management of the forest from a short harvest cycle (typically 10–15 years for pulpwood) to a long harvest cycle (typically 25–30+ years for sawlogs). By extending the rotation period, the trees grow larger and store significantly more carbon in their biomass. Additionally, the resulting wood is processed into long-lived structural timber products (like house frames) at facilities such as the proponent's Jubilee Sawmill in Mount Gambier, rather than short-lived paper products. The "2019 Age Class" in the project title likely refers to the specific cohort of trees planted or committed to this management regime in the 2019 operational year.