Wespine Carbon Plantations Three

Wespine Carbon Plantations Three is an "Avoided Conversion" plantation forestry project located approximately 12 kilometers south of the township of Bridgetown in the South West region of Western Australia. Registered on December 4, 2023, the project covers a small area of roughly 40 hectares within the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes. The region is a significant hub for both timber production and agriculture, with the project site situated in a landscape dominated by softwood plantations, grazing pastures, and native forests.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022, specifically utilizing the "avoided conversion" activity (Schedule 3). This methodology credits projects for maintaining plantation forests on land that would otherwise be converted to non-forested uses, such as agriculture or grazing, under business-as-usual economic conditions. By committing to continue the plantation cycle, harvesting and replanting trees rather than clearing the land for pasture, the project prevents the release of soil and biomass carbon that would occur during conversion and ensures ongoing carbon sequestration in the new timber crop.

Environmentally, the site lies within a high rainfall zone, with nearby Manjimup recording average annual rainfall of approximately 1000mm. The terrain in this part of the Darling Plateau typically features lateritic gravels and red earth loams (often called Karri loams), which are highly productive soils for both Pinus radiata (pine) plantations and horticultural pursuits.

The proponent, Wespine Industries Pty Ltd, is a major Western Australian softwood sawmiller based in Dardanup. This project likely reflects a strategic effort to secure long-term timber resources in a region where high agricultural land values can drive the conversion of plantation estate back into farmland.