Carbon + Biodiversity project IDR2-1402

Carbon + Biodiversity project IDR2-1402 is a permanent environmental planting project located near Balmattum, approximately 12km northeast of Euroa in the Strathbogie Shire of Victoria. Registered on May 4, 2023, the project covers roughly 57 hectares of land previously used for agricultural purposes, specifically grazing and cropping which are the dominant land uses in the Goulburn Valley region.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings FullCAM methodology, which requires planting native tree and shrub species at a density sufficient to reach forest cover (typically at least 200 stems per hectare with potential to reach 2 metres in height and 20% canopy cover). As a participant in Round 2 of the Australian Government's Carbon + Biodiversity (C+B) Pilot, this project was required to adhere to strict biodiversity protocols, planting a mix of locally native species to create high-quality habitat rather than a monoculture.

The Euroa and Violet Town region is characterized by a temperate climate with a moderate average annual rainfall of approximately 650mm, falling mostly in winter and spring. The local terrain typically features Chromosols, soils with a strong texture contrast consisting of sandy loams overlying medium-to-heavy clay subsoils. These conditions are well-suited to the native box-gum grassy woodlands historically found in the area.

A notable aspect of this project is its successful funding through the C+B Pilot, receiving a grant of over $424,000 to support vegetation establishment. This pilot program aims to diversify farm income by rewarding landholders for biodiversity stewardship in addition to the standard Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated by carbon sequestration.