Heartwood Carbon 1

Heartwood Carbon 1 is a commercial plantation forestry project primarily located across the Gippsland region of Victoria, with aggregated sites positioned near Yarram, Sale, and Traralgon, as well as a property further inland near Tallarook (approximately 90km north of Melbourne). Registered in August 2022, the project currently covers approximately 428 hectares. The project operates on land historically used for grazing and agriculture, integrating timber production into these existing landscapes.

The project utilizes the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. This methodology credits carbon sequestered in trees planted for commercial harvest, requiring that the planting establishes a new forest on land that has been clear of forest cover for at least seven years (Schedule 1) or converts a short-rotation plantation to a long-rotation one (Schedule 2). Unlike environmental plantings, these trees are intended for harvest, but the long-term average carbon stock is calculated to generate credits.

The Gippsland and Murrindindi regions are characterized by reliable, high rainfall (averaging around 850mm per annum) and fertile soils ranging from sandy loams in coastal areas to clay loams inland, making them prime locations for forestry. Heartwood Plantations focuses on high-value durable hardwoods rather than pulpwood, planting species such as Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata), Yellow Stringybark (Eucalyptus muelleriana), Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus tricarpa), and Coast Grey Box (Eucalyptus bosistiana).

A unique feature of this project is its silvopasture model, marketed as "Heartwood Herds." The proponent integrates livestock grazing beneath the timber canopy, using the trees to provide shelter for cattle while the animals help manage weeds and reduce fire risk. This approach layers carbon income, timber revenue, and agricultural productivity on the same footprint. The project is managed in partnership with The Carbon Farming Foundation.