Australian Forests For A Cleaner Climate #1

Australian Forests For A Cleaner Climate #1 is a commercial plantation forestry project located across multiple dispersed sites in the Derwent Valley and Southern Midlands regions of Tasmania. The project areas are situated roughly 70 to 90 kilometers northwest and north of Hobart, with specific sites identified near the towns of Ouse, Ellendale, and Tunbridge. Registered on June 19, 2020, the project covers a total area of approximately 585 hectares.

The region is characterized by a mix of agricultural land uses, primarily sheep and cattle grazing, alongside significant commercial forestry operations. The environmental conditions in these specific locations are generally drier than the Tasmanian west coast; areas like Ouse and the Midlands sit within rain shadows, receiving average annual rainfall between 500mm and 600mm. The soil profiles in these regions are often dolerite-derived, featuring clay-rich subsoils and texture-contrast soils (Chromosols and Sodosols) that are well-suited to Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus plantations when managed correctly.

This project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2017. Unlike environmental plantings designed solely for conservation, this methodology supports commercial timber operations. The project specifically engages in two key activities: establishing new plantation forests on land that has been clear of forest for at least seven years, and converting existing plantations from "short rotation" (typically growing pulpwood harvested every 10-15 years) to "long rotation" (growing sawlogs harvested after 25+ years).

By extending the rotation period, the trees grow larger and store carbon for a longer duration before harvest. Additionally, the wood products created from sawlogs (such as structural timber) retain carbon for decades, whereas pulp products release carbon relatively quickly. The project is managed by Corporate Carbon Advisory Pty Ltd, with Climate Friendly Pty Ltd acting as a participant. It has undergone multiple variations in 2021 and 2022 to add new areas, indicating an aggregated structure where distinct forestry blocks are enrolled into the scheme over time.