North Capel Carbon Project - Phase 1

North Capel Carbon Project - Phase 1 is a 77-hectare environmental planting initiative located approximately 3 kilometers north of the town of Capel in the South West region of Western Australia. Registered on January 24, 2024, the project is situated on land within the Shire of Capel, a region traditionally known for a mix of dairy and cattle farming, viticulture, and significant mineral sands mining operations.

The project proponent is Western Mineral Sands Proprietary Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the major critical minerals company Iluka Resources. This suggests the project is likely established on company-owned land that was previously leased for agricultural purposes, specifically grazing or cropping, for at least five years prior to registration. The project is being delivered in partnership with Canopy Nature Based Solutions, a subsidiary of the environmental non-profit Greening Australia, indicating a strong focus on biodiversity alongside carbon sequestration.

The Capel region experiences a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, with a high average annual rainfall of approximately 800mm. The landscape typically features sandy or sandy-loam soils associated with the Swan Coastal Plain, which are well-suited for the native vegetation being restored.

Operating under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (2014) methodology, the project involves the permanent planting of mixed native tree species local to the area. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the planting must be established at a density sufficient to achieve "forest cover," defined as a crown cover of at least 20% and a height of at least 2 meters. This methodology does not allow for harvesting; the trees are protected for a designated permanence period (usually 25 or 100 years) to act as a long-term carbon sink.