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 inland from the Mid West coast of Western Australia, approximately 200km north of Perth near Badgingarra. It was registered in May 2019 and originally covered 1,526.30 ha.

Reforestation and afforestation projects involve planting seeds or seedlings to establish a permanent forest on land that has been grazed, cropped, or fallow for at least five years. Under the 2.0 methodology, these environmental plantings must be permanently maintained, not harvested, and have the potential to reach a height of at least 2 metres with a crown cover of at least 20%.

The Northern Agricultural Region surrounding the project is primarily utilised for broadacre dryland cropping, such as wheat and canola, alongside livestock grazing. The area experiences a Mediterranean climate characterised by moderate, winter-dominant rainfall. The local soil profiles are typically composed of deep sands and sandy loams over lateritic gravel, typical of the Western Australian Wheatbelt.

This project is particularly unique as it establishes a permanent "melliferous" (honey-producing) forest. The proponent, Apis Assets Pty Ltd ("Apis" referring to the genus for honey bees), has planted a mix of Australian and Western Australian native shrubs and trees with a heavy focus on Leptospermum species. These species are highly prized by the apiary industry because their nectar produces bioactive Manuka (or jelly bush) honey, which has powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. This dual-purpose approach allows the project to generate a lucrative commercial co-benefit through high-value honey production alongside its carbon sequestration. In October 2022, a variation was made to the project, removing some specific areas from the original boundary.