Wespine Carbon Plantations Two

Wespine Carbon Plantations Two is a plantation forestry project located in the South West region of Western Australia, with sites spread across areas near Bridgetown and Bunbury. It was registered in July 2021 and covers 251.38ha.

Plantation forestry projects involve establishing new plantation forests, converting existing short-rotation plantations to long-rotation plantations, or maintaining pre-existing forests. These projects sequester carbon in both the growing trees and the long-term harvested wood products, while adhering to specific commercial species selection and stocking density requirements to remain commercially viable for timber harvest.

The South West region of Western Australia is renowned for its agriculture, including dairy, grazing, and viticulture, as well as its extensive commercial timber operations. The area benefits from a Mediterranean climate with high winter rainfall, and the soils generally consist of lateritic gravels, sandy loams, and clay subsoils that are exceptionally well-suited for softwood forestry.

This project, run by major local softwood sawmill operator Wespine Industries, sequesters carbon by both establishing new plantation forests and converting existing short-rotation forests to long-rotation for commercial timber harvesting. The project has undergone several variations to progressively expand its area and update its methodology to the newer 2022 determination. Additionally, the proponent Wespine Industries is actively expanding its commercial forestry footprint in the state, having received government funding under the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's Support Plantation Establishment program to plant new softwood plantations.