Manning Hill Reforestration

Manning Hill Reforestration is an environmental planting project located in the locality of Bunyah, approximately 30 kilometers northwest of Bulahdelah in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales. Registered in May 2023, the project covers roughly 103 hectares within a larger 232-hectare property held by the Tamplin Family. The region is historically characterized by timber harvesting and beef cattle grazing, set amongst rolling hills and river valleys that define the Hunter and Mid-Coast hinterlands.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology. This method necessitates the establishment of permanent native forest cover on land that has been clear of forest for at least five years and was previously used for agriculture. While standard requirements often mandate a stocking density sufficient to achieve forest cover (typically minimum 200 stems per hectare), this specific project has targeted a higher density of approximately 500 stems per hectare. This is achieved using tubestock grown from locally sourced seed to ensure resilience and ecological suitability.

Environmentally, the Bunyah area falls into a high-rainfall zone (typically exceeding 1,000mm annually), supporting rapid vegetation growth on soils that are often clay-loam based and prone to erosion on steeper slopes. The project has attracted attention and funding through the NSW Government's "Living Carbon" grant program due to its significant biodiversity co-benefits. Specifically, the planting is designed to restore critical habitat for the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, and Squirrel Glider, connecting riparian zones with upper slopes. Notable species planted include Eucalyptus glaucina (Slatey Red Gum) and Rhodamnia rubescens (Scrub Turpentine).