Heartwood Carbon 1

Heartwood Carbon 1 is a plantation forestry project located across multiple sites in Victoria, prominently spanning the East Gippsland, Wellington, and Murrindindi local government areas, with nearby major towns including Traralgon, Heyfield, and Seymour. It was registered in August 2022 and currently covers a project area of 428.12 hectares. The general land use in these regional areas is heavily characterized by dairy farming, beef cattle grazing, and commercial forestry operations.

Plantation Forestry methodology projects involve sequestering carbon by establishing, maintaining, or transitioning plantation forests. In the case of this specific project, the activity focuses on the establishment of a new plantation forest intended for the commercial harvesting of wood products. Under standard methodology requirements, projects must meet specific commercial stocking densities, manage the forest for wood products, and ensure no native forests were cleared to establish the plantation.

The Gippsland and Central Highlands regions are considered high-rainfall environments, typically receiving between 800mm and 1200mm of rain annually, which creates ideal conditions for rapid tree growth. The soils across these sites are generally fertile clay loams, alluvial loams in the river valleys, and sandy loams in the coastal foothills, providing a strong foundation for deep-rooted trees.

This project is managed by Heartwood Plantations, an experienced forestry business operating in Victoria since 1995. They specialize in cultivating Australian eucalyptus species that feature rapid growth and natural timber durability. The project has undergone multiple area variations since its registration, with additional land being added in October 2023, and certain areas being removed in July 2024.