Gabalong Farms Mallee 2023

Gabalong Farms Mallee 2023 is a permanent mallee planting project located in Gabalong, Western Australia. Situated in the Shire of Moora, the project area is approximately 146km north of Perth, with the town of Moora serving as the closest major regional centre. Registered in June 2023, the project covers a total area of 385.18 hectares. The surrounding Wheatbelt region is deeply connected to Western Australia's agricultural heritage, with general land use primarily focused on broadacre cropping and livestock grazing.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology. This project type involves establishing a permanent, non-harvest forest by planting native species or mallee trees on land that has been clear of forest cover for at least five years. To generate carbon credits, these trees must be planted at a sufficient density to give them the potential to achieve at least 20% crown cover and reach a height of two meters. Additionally, mallee plantings under this specific method are restricted to land that receives 600mm or less of long-term average annual rainfall.

The environment in the Gabalong and wider Moora region is characterised by a semi-arid, Mediterranean climate with relatively low, winter-dominant rainfall, which fits perfectly within the methodology's strict rainfall threshold. The soils in this portion of the northern agricultural region are typically sandy and sandy loams, often underlain by deeper clay or lateritic profiles, making them highly suitable for deep-rooted native mallee species.

An interesting fact about this project is its association with "Wheatbelt Connect," a major corporate joint venture between the project proponent INPEX, ANZ, and Qantas. The initiative is designed to integrate native revegetation with sustainable agricultural rehabilitation, generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to help offset the greenhouse gas liabilities of the participating corporations. Additionally, the small rural locality of Gabalong holds a unique place in geological history as the epicentre of a 5.8 magnitude earthquake in 1955, which remains one of the largest ever recorded in Western Australia.