GBR - Russel River Catchment Site #2 (Revoked)

GBR - Russel River Catchment Site #2 (Revoked) was an environmental planting project located in the Wet Tropics region of Queensland, specifically near the small town of Mirriwinni, approximately 65km south of Cairns. The project covered 80.72 hectares and was registered in May 2018. The "GBR" in the project title refers to the Great Barrier Reef, indicating the project likely aimed to provide co-benefits such as reducing sediment runoff into the reef lagoon, a critical priority for the Russell River catchment.

The project operated under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM methodology. This method involves establishing permanent plantings of native tree and shrub species on land previously cleared for agricultural use. To generate carbon credits (ACCUs), the planting must achieve forest cover, typically defined as a height of at least 2 meters and canopy cover of 20%, with stocking densities often exceeding 200 stems per hectare to ensure survival and canopy closure.

The site is situated in one of Australia's highest rainfall zones; the nearby town of Babinda is frequently cited as the wettest town in Australia, with annual rainfall often exceeding 4,000mm. The soils in this catchment are primarily fertile alluvial clays and loams, derived from the surrounding granite and metamorphic mountain ranges (such as Mt Bellenden Ker). The region is dominated by intensive agriculture, particularly sugarcane and banana cultivation, making the conversion of this land back to native forest significant for both biodiversity and water quality.

The project proponent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited, is a subsidiary of the GreenCollar Group, a major player in the Australian environmental markets. The project was voluntarily revoked under Section 30 of the CFI Rule on August 11, 2023. A Section 30 revocation is a voluntary exit from the scheme requested by the proponent, which generally requires the relinquishment of any ACCUs issued to the project to lift the Carbon Maintenance Obligation from the land title.