Kardutjaanup 2023

Kardutjaanup 2023 is a First Nations-led environmental planting project located approximately 25 kilometers west of Salmon Gums in the Shire of Esperance, Western Australia. Registered on June 6, 2023, the project covers 194.35 hectares of land that was historically used for agriculture, specifically wheat and sheep farming. The project area is situated near the cultural landmark of Peak Charles, known to the local Wudjari Nyungar people as "Kardutjaanup," which serves as the namesake for the property and the initiative.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology, which involves establishing permanent native forests on land that has been clear of forest cover for at least five years. Standard requirements for this methodology typically include planting species local to the area at a density sufficient to achieve forest cover, generally at least 200 stems per hectare, and modeling carbon sequestration using the FullCAM software. For Kardutjaanup, this involves restoring the degraded farmland with mixed native species, including Mallee eucalypts, to re-establish biodiversity and soil health.

Environmentally, the Salmon Gums region is characterized by a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with low annual rainfall, averaging around 350mm. The landscape is part of the "Mallee" bioregion, featuring soils that are typically alkaline sandy loams over clay subsoils (solodized solonetz). These soils can be susceptible to compaction and salinity after prolonged agricultural use, making the deep-rooted native vegetation critical for landscape repair.

A notable aspect of this project is its proponent, The Tijuk Foundation, which acts as a vehicle for the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (ETNTAC). The project represents a significant effort in "healing Country," supported by partnerships with corporate entities like L'Oréal and Zenith, as well as environmental organizations like Odonata. The site, formerly known as "Sardi Farm," was acquired to foster economic self-determination for the Wudjari people while creating a cultural corridor connecting to the nearby Greater Western Woodlands.