Kardutjaanup

Kardutjaanup is an environmental planting project located in the vicinity of Salmon Gums, approximately 100km north of Esperance in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. Registered in August 2022, the project covers roughly 401 hectares of land that was historically cleared for agricultural purposes, such as cropping and grazing. The project represents a significant restoration effort situated at the interface of the Western Australian Wheatbelt and the Great Western Woodlands.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings methodology, which involves establishing permanent plantings of native tree species. To meet the requirements, the project must plant species local to the area at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover (typically over 200 stems per hectare) or satisfying specific "Mallee" planting configurations. The goal is to sequester carbon in the biomass of the trees while improving biodiversity and restoring local ecosystems.

The Salmon Gums region is characterized by a semi-arid to Mediterranean climate with low-to-medium rainfall, averaging between 300mm and 400mm annually, often with summer variability. The landscape typically features calcareous sandy loams and clay soils (often referred to as "Salmon Gum soils" or solonized soils) which can be susceptible to salinity. The native vegetation in this area is dominated by iconic Eucalypt woodlands, particularly Eucalyptus salmonophloia (Salmon Gum) and various Mallee species, which the project aims to reinstate.

A notable aspect of Kardutjaanup is its status as a First Nations-led initiative. The proponent, The Tijuk Foundation Pty Ltd, is a subsidiary of the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (ETNTAC). The project is designed to deliver "restoration of Country," providing cultural and economic outcomes for the local Indigenous community alongside environmental benefits. It has also received funding through the Australian Government's Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot (Round 2), highlighting its focus on high-integrity biodiversity co-benefits.