Western Tree Farms 1

Western Tree Farms 1 is a commercial plantation forestry project located in the South West region of Western Australia, approximately 250km south of Perth. The project area spans approximately 660 hectares across multiple sites; based on the registered coordinates, these sites are situated near the timber town of Greenbushes and the rural locality of Unicup, east of Manjimup. Registered on May 27, 2024, the project operates in a region heavily utilized for forestry (softwood and hardwood), grazing, and increasingly viticulture.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. This methodology credits carbon sequestered in trees as well as carbon stored in long-term wood products. Specifically, Western Tree Farms 1 combines two distinct activities: establishing new plantation forests on land previously used for agriculture, and converting existing short-rotation plantations (typically harvested for woodchip/pulp) into long-rotation plantations (managed for high-quality sawlogs). This conversion extends the tree growth period, significantly increasing the carbon stock stored in the forest biomass and the durability of the resulting wood products.

The South West region of Western Australia is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The project sites lie within a high rainfall zone, typically receiving between 600mm and 1000mm annually, which is critical for supporting commercial timber species like Pinus radiata. The local topography generally features lateritic gravels and sandy loams, often associated with the Darling Plateau, which provide the drainage and fertility required for productive forestry operations.

Wespine Industries Pty Ltd, the project proponent, is a major Western Australian softwood manufacturer jointly owned by Wesfarmers and Fletcher Building. They operate a large sawmill in Dardanup which processes pine into structural timber, packaging, and landscaping products. This project likely serves a dual purpose: securing a sustainable long-term timber supply for their Dardanup facility while generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to offset emissions or for sale on the carbon market.