North Capel Carbon Project - Phase 1

North Capel Carbon Project - Phase 1 is an environmental planting project located just north of Capel and approximately 25km south of Bunbury in the South West region of Western Australia. Registered in January 2024, the project covers an area of 77 hectares on land that was predominantly used for agricultural purposes for at least five years prior to its commencement.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings (FullCAM) methodology. Environmental planting projects involve establishing permanent plantings of a mix of native tree or shrub species. To meet standard ACCU requirements, these plantings must be designed to achieve continuous forest cover, meaning the trees must have the potential to reach at least 2 metres in height and provide 20% crown cover over the land, typically requiring a planting density of at least 200 stems per hectare.

The Capel and greater Bunbury region experiences a Mediterranean-type climate characterized by warm summers and high winter rainfall. Soils across this coastal plain generally consist of sandy surfaces with clay or loamy subsoils at depth. The surrounding region is known for its diverse land use, functioning as a hub for dairy farming, livestock grazing, and horticulture, alongside a strong presence of mineral sands mining.

An interesting aspect of this project is its proponent, Western Mineral Sands Proprietary Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Iluka Resources, a major international mineral sands mining company. Partnering with Canopy Nature Based Solutions Pty Ltd, the project aims to plant native species local to the area, likely serving as both a carbon abatement initiative and a land rehabilitation effort to restore biodiversity in a region historically impacted by intensive agriculture and mining operations.