Carbon and Biodiversity Project ID R2 1484

Carbon and Biodiversity Project ID R2 1484 is an environmental planting project located near Clonbinane, approximately 12km southeast of Broadford in central Victoria. Registered in May 2023, the project covers roughly 46 hectares in the Murrindindi Shire, a region characterized by the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. The area is traditionally utilized for grazing livestock (sheep and cattle) and forestry, though it increasingly supports rural lifestyle properties due to its proximity to Melbourne.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM methodology. This involves establishing permanent plantings of mixed native tree species on land previously cleared for agriculture, with the aim of achieving forest cover. Standard requirements for this method typically mandate a stocking density sufficient to reach at least 20% crown cover and a height of 2 meters, often requiring at least 200 stems per hectare.

Situated in a cool temperate zone, the project area benefits from moderate to high rainfall typical of the Victorian Southern Slopes. The terrain likely features sedimentary soils, often presenting as loams over clay subsoils (Chromosols or Sodosols), which are common in the undulating hills of the region. A notable feature of this project is its participation in the Australian Government's "Carbon + Biodiversity Pilot" (Round 2), indicated by the "R2" in its title. This scheme rewards farmers for increasing on-farm biodiversity in conjunction with carbon sequestration, highlighting the project's dual focus on climate and habitat restoration.