Farmland Rejuvenation with Leptospermum and other native Australian species

Farmland Rejuvenation with Leptospermum and other native Australian species is a reforestation and afforestation project located in the Shire of Dandaragan, approximately 20km inland from Jurien Bay and 30km west of Badgingarra in Western Australia. Registered in May 2019, the project covers a net area of roughly 1,526 hectares. The project operates under the "Reforestation and Afforestation 2.0" method, which is designed to sequester carbon by establishing permanent forest cover on land that has been used for grazing, cropping, or left fallow for at least five years prior to the project's commencement.

Projects under this methodology must plant trees at a density sufficient to achieve "forest cover" status, defined as achieving at least 20% crown cover at a height of 2 meters. This specific project is notable for its focus on "melliferous" (honey-producing) species, particularly Leptospermum (Manuka). This indicates a dual-purpose land management strategy where the proponent, APIS ASSETS PTY LTD, intends to generate high-value medicinal honey alongside Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

The project is situated in the Badgingarra Sandplain region, an area renowned for its biodiversity but historically cleared for agriculture. The local environment is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 520mm to 550mm, occurring mostly in winter. The soils in this location are typically deep sands, sandy gravels, or lateritic profiles, which are well-suited to the native shrub species selected for planting. By reforesting this sandy agricultural land, the project aims to restore local biodiversity while diversifying farm income through carbon and apiary products.