Carbon Positive Biodiverse Plantings

Carbon Positive Biodiverse Plantings is an environmental planting project located across two distinct regions: approximately 30km north of Lismore in northern NSW, and near Mount Barker in the Plantagenet local government area of Western Australia. It was registered in June 2021 and covers an area of 147.45ha.

Environmental planting projects under the FullCAM methodology involve establishing permanent plantings of a mix of native tree species on land that was predominantly used for agricultural purposes for at least five years prior to project commencement. To meet the standard methodology requirements, these plantings are established at a density sufficient to reach a height of at least 2 metres and provide a minimum of 20% crown cover (typically requiring a stocking density of 200 or more stems per hectare).

The regional contexts for this project are highly varied. The Lismore area in NSW is well known for cattle grazing, dairy farming, and horticulture. This region is sub-tropical with high rainfall, and its soils are generally rich basalt and clay. In contrast, the Mount Barker area in WA is characterized by broadacre cropping, sheep grazing, and timber plantations. It experiences a Mediterranean climate with moderate winter-dominant rainfall, featuring soils that consist largely of sandy loams and lateritic gravel.

This project aims to deliver localized biodiversity benefits alongside carbon sequestration, with a nominated permanence period of 100 years. Interestingly, the project area has undergone a few variations since its registration; land parcels were added in January and June of 2022, while some project areas were subsequently removed most recently in May 2026.