Sustainable Timber Tasmania Project 3. Conversion of 150 ha of Pinus Radiata

Sustainable Timber Tasmania Project 3. Conversion of 150 ha of Pinus Radiata is a plantation forestry project located across multiple parcels in Tasmania, predominantly situated in the Meander Valley region roughly 15km south of Deloraine, and the Huon Valley region south of Geeveston. It was registered in September 2022 and covers 170.75 hectares.

Plantation forestry projects under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme generate credits by storing carbon in plantation trees and harvested wood products. The methodology requires maintaining specific stocking densities and demonstrating that commercial harvesting and rotation cycles meet strict duration guidelines. Specifically, this project achieves its carbon sequestration by converting an existing short-rotation Pinus radiata plantation into a long-rotation plantation designed for the commercial harvesting of long-lived wood products.

The Meander and Huon Valley regions are known for their robust agricultural activities, mixed grazing, and extensive commercial forestry operations. The Tasmanian environment provides a high rainfall climate that is highly conducive to silviculture, supported by soils that are typically well-structured clay loams, podzolics, and fertile basalts.

The project proponent is Forestry Tasmania, a state-owned entity that has officially operated under the trading name Sustainable Timber Tasmania since 2017. A notable fact about this silvicultural transition is that short-rotation plantations (which typically run for 12 to 20 years) are generally harvested for pulpwood and woodchips. By extending the rotation length, the Pinus radiata trees are allowed to grow significantly larger and stronger, making them suitable for high-value structural timber and sawlogs rather than lower-value commodities. Sustainable Timber Tasmania holds several similar conversion projects within the ACCU scheme, utilizing the carbon framework to support both long-term emissions reduction and Australia's domestic supply of structural wood.