Australian Forests For A Cleaner Climate #1

Australian Forests For A Cleaner Climate #1 is a plantation forestry project located across multiple sites in the Southern Midlands and Central Highlands of Tasmania, approximately 50 to 80 kilometres northwest of Hobart. Run by project proponent Corporate Carbon Advisory Pty Ltd, it was registered in June 2020 and covers a baseline area of 585.88 hectares. Two subsequent variations on 30/06/2021 and 11/02/2022 have seen additional areas integrated into the project's boundaries.

Plantation forestry projects involve establishing new plantation forests or converting existing short-rotation plantation forests to long-rotation plantation forests. The standard requirements for these methodology types include actively managing the forest for commercial timber harvesting and maintaining specific tree stocking densities.

The Southern Midlands and Central Highlands regions of Tasmania are broadly known for sheep grazing, nature conservation, and commercial forestry operations. The region experiences a cool temperate climate, with rainfall classifications ranging from high precipitation in the elevated highlands to moderate rainfall in the midland rain shadows. The environment features a diverse mix of soil types, including fertile loams, heavy clays, and highly carbon-rich organic peats.

This project sequesters carbon by transitioning existing short-rotation plantation forests to long-rotation forests for the commercial harvesting of wood products, alongside the establishment of entirely new plantation sites. An interesting fact about this project is its direct contribution to corporate climate action; Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated from this forest have been utilised by the poultry company Ingham's. This offset investment allowed Ingham's to successfully certify their Tasmanian Marion Bay chicken products as completely carbon neutral from paddock to shelf, a first for the state's poultry industry.