FPC 2023 CP1

FPC 2023 CP1 is a plantation forestry project located across multiple sites in the South West region of Western Australia, with key areas situated approximately 20km south of Nannup and 30km southeast of Collie. Registered on October 8, 2023, the project covers a total area of approximately 554 hectares. The surrounding region is a hub for the state's timber industry, characterized by a mix of state forests, commercial timber plantations, and grazing land.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. It combines two distinct activities: establishing new plantation forests on land that has been clear of forest for at least seven years, and converting existing short-rotation plantations into long-rotation forests. In the context of the Forest Products Commission (FPC), this typically involves managing softwood (pine) plantations for higher-value sawlogs over a cycle of 25–30 years, rather than harvesting trees early for woodchips or lower-grade products. This extended growth period allows the trees to sequester significantly more carbon in their biomass.

Environmentally, the project area experiences a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and dry, warm summers. Rainfall in this part of the South West is generally high, ranging from 600mm to over 900mm annually, supporting robust tree growth. The soils are typically ancient and weathered, consisting of lateritic gravels, sandy loams, and clay subsoils which are well-suited to Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine) and other commercial timber species.

This project is likely part of the Western Australian Government's $350 million Softwood Plantation Investment Program, which aims to expand the state's timber estate to support the construction industry. The initiative has gained strategic importance following the state's decision to end commercial logging in native forests as of 2024, shifting the entire focus of the timber industry toward sustainably managed plantations.