Wespine Carbon Plantations Two

Wespine Carbon Plantations Two is a commercial plantation forestry project located in the South West region of Western Australia. The project area consists of multiple sites scattered across the "South West Timber Hub," with specific parcels situated near Dardanup, Donnybrook, and extending south towards the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes. Registered in July 2021, the project initially covered approximately 251 hectares, though multiple variations filed throughout 2023 indicate the project area has expanded significantly since its inception.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Unlike environmental plantings which are permanent conservation forests, this methodology integrates carbon sequestration with commercial timber production. Wespine's specific activities involve establishing new plantation forests and converting existing short-rotation plantations to long-rotation. Practically, this often means shifting from growing trees for quick-harvest woodchips (short rotation) to growing structural sawlogs (long rotation), which allows the trees to grow longer and store carbon for an extended period before harvest.

The region is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with high winter rainfall, averaging between 700mm and 1000mm annually, which is ideal for the rapid growth of Pinus radiata (Radiata Pine). The soil composition in this forestry belt typically features lateritic gravels, sandy loams, and clays associated with the Darling Scarp and plateau. Wespine Industries, the proponent, is a joint venture between Wesfarmers and Fletcher Building and operates a major softwood sawmill in Dardanup, emphasizing a "zero waste" approach where timber by-products are utilized for energy or other materials.