Chetwynd Carbon & Biodiversity Project

The Chetwynd Carbon & Biodiversity Project is a plantation forestry project located in the locality of Chetwynd, approximately 35 kilometers northeast of Casterton in western Victoria. Registered in March 2023, the project covers a relatively small area of 52.71 hectares. The surrounding region of the West Wimmera and Southern Grampians is characterized by a mix of agricultural land uses, predominantly sheep grazing for wool and meat, alongside significant commercial timber plantations (blue gum and pine).

This project operates under the Plantation Forestry methodology, specifically focusing on the transition of an existing plantation to a permanent forest. This activity type is designed for plantation estates that might otherwise be harvested and converted back to non-forested agricultural land (such as pasture). by committing to retain the trees permanently, the project avoids the emissions associated with harvesting and soil disturbance, while allowing the forest to continue sequestering carbon as it matures. The project has committed to a 100-year permanence period, ensuring the carbon stocks are protected until at least 2124.

Environmentally, the Chetwynd area sits within a temperate climate zone with a distinct winter-dominant rainfall pattern, typically averaging between 600mm and 700mm annually. The local terrain often features the dissected tablelands typical of the Dundas region, where soils are commonly texture-contrast types consisting of sandy or loamy topsoils over clay subsoils. These conditions are historically favorable for forestry but can be susceptible to erosion if vegetation cover is removed, making the transition to permanent forest beneficial for both soil stability and biodiversity.