Woodside Native Reforestation Project - Phase 4

Woodside Native Reforestation Project - Phase 4 is a large-scale environmental planting project located in the Mid-West and Wheatbelt regions of Western Australia. Registered in May 2023, the project covers approximately 4,873 hectares across multiple properties. The project areas are geographically distinct: one site is situated roughly 30km west of Coorow (near Eneabba), while the other lies approximately 35km east of Dalwallinu.

The project operates under the Carbon Farming Initiative's "Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings" methodology. This involves establishing permanent plantings of native tree species, such as eucalypts, banksias, and hakeas, on land that was previously cleared for agricultural use. The primary goal is to sequester carbon by restoring forest cover, typically requiring planting densities sufficient to achieve canopy closure (often over 200 stems per hectare). As a "FullCAM" project, the carbon abatement is modelled using the Australian Government's Full Carbon Accounting Model rather than manual measurement.

The region is characterized by a semi-arid, Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Rainfall in these specific zones generally ranges from 300mm to 500mm annually. The landscape consists largely of broadacre cropping (wheat and canola) and sheep grazing. The soils are typical of the Western Australian Wheatbelt, often featuring sandy loams, sandplains (kwongan), and ancient, weathered profiles that can be susceptible to wind erosion and salinity when cleared of vegetation.

Woodside Energy, a major Australian oil and gas company, is the proponent for this project as part of its broader carbon offset portfolio, which reportedly spans over 45,000 hectares. The project has seen some adjustments, with variations noted in June and October 2025 removing specific areas from the project scope. The acquisition of whole farms for such carbon projects has occasionally generated local debate regarding the conversion of productive food-producing land into permanent carbon sinks.