The Elements' Carbon Project

'The Elements' Carbon Project is a permanent environmental planting project located in the rural locality of Tylden, situated approximately 10km southwest of Kyneton and 5km northeast of Trentham in Victoria's Macedon Ranges Shire. Registered on June 23, 2022, the project covers a boutique area of 20.99 hectares on land that was predominantly used for agricultural purposes for at least five years prior to commencement.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology. This specific method requires the proponent, Mette Schepers, to plant a mix of native tree and shrub species with the aim of establishing permanent forest cover. To be eligible for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the planting must be stocked at a density sufficient to achieve, or have the potential to achieve, a canopy cover of at least 20% and a height of 2 meters.

The surrounding Tylden and Trentham region is characterized by a cool, high-rainfall climate (often exceeding 800mm annually) and is renowned for its fertile red volcanic soils (ferrosols). While the region is heavily utilized for high-value agriculture such as potato cropping and cattle grazing, this project repurposes the land for carbon sequestration, capitalizing on the high soil productivity to drive rapid vegetation growth.

The project activities involve the establishment of permanent mixed-species plantings native to the local area, ensuring biodiversity benefits alongside carbon abatement. The project's relatively small scale suggests it is likely integrated into a private landholding or lifestyle property, contributing to the "green corridors" often encouraged in the Macedon Ranges connectivity plans.