Western Treefarm Project phase 1

Western Treefarm Project phase 1 is a plantation forestry project located in the South West region of Western Australia. The project area is split across multiple blocks, with primary sites situated approximately 20km southeast of the major industrial town of Collie and 15km south of Donnybrook. Registered in February 2022, the project covers a substantial area of 1,864 hectares. The surrounding region is a significant hub for Western Australia's timber industry, characterised by a mosaic of native state forests, commercial timber plantations, and agricultural land used for grazing and cropping.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022, specifically focusing on the conversion from short-rotation to long-rotation plantation forestry. In practical terms, this usually involves transitioning a plantation originally intended for woodchip or pulp production (harvested every 10–15 years) into a sawlog regime (harvested after 25+ years). By extending the growth cycle of the trees, the project allows for a greater volume of carbon to be sequestered in the biomass over a longer period before harvest.

Environmentally, this region benefits from a Mediterranean climate with reliable, high rainfall, typically averaging between 700mm and 950mm annually, which is ideal for commercial forestry. The terrain generally consists of the Darling Plateau's characteristic lateritic gravels and ironstone soils on ridges, transitioning to loamy earths and deep sands in the valleys. These soil types are well-drained and support vigorous growth for species such as Pinus radiata (radiata pine) and Eucalyptus globulus (blue gum), which are common in the area.

The project proponent, Mitsui & Co. Wood Resources Oceania Pty Ltd (MWO), is a major player in the Australian forestry sector and a subsidiary of the Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co. Historically focused on the export of woodchips through the Port of Bunbury, MWO's engagement in this project signals a strategic utilisation of carbon finance to support longer rotation periods. This shift not only generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) but can also diversify the end-products of the plantation, potentially moving towards higher-value structural timber.