Wilyun Pools 2022

Wilyun Pools 2022 is a Plantation Forestry carbon project located at the "Wilyun Pools" property in Mettler, approximately 100km northeast of Albany in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Registered in May 2023, the project currently covers approximately 260 hectares. The project operates on a property historically used for sheep farming and blue gum plantations, situated within the internationally recognized Southwest Australian biodiversity hotspot.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Specifically, it involves the transition of an existing plantation forest, originally intended for harvest, into a permanent forest. By ceasing commercial harvesting operations and allowing the trees to grow to maturity in perpetuity, the project ensures long-term carbon sequestration and prevents the release of stored carbon that would occur during clear-felling.

The Mettler region experiences a Mediterranean climate with a mean annual rainfall of approximately 600mm, predominantly falling in winter. The local terrain is characteristic of the Esperance Plains bioregion, typically featuring sandy duplex soils, gravelly loams, and areas of sandplain supporting Kwongan shrubland. The property itself creates a vital wildlife corridor connecting the Hassell National Park and nearby nature reserves, contributing to the broader "Gondwana Link" conservation initiative.

Notable for its high-integrity approach, the Wilyun Pools farm won the Australian Government Landcare Farming Award in 2022. The project is a collaboration between Carbon Neutral Pty Ltd, the investment firm Wollemi Capital, and the Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories group, offering a pathway for Traditional Owners to eventually assume ownership of the land.