Engage Marine Carbon Farm

Engage Marine Carbon Farm is a reforestation project located on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, situated near the locality of Tooligie, approximately 30km southeast of the town of Lock and 50km west of Cleve. Registered in March 2024, the project covers a substantial area of 634 hectares within the District Council of Cleve local government area. The proponent, Engage Marine, identifies this initiative commercially as the "Tooligie Environmental Planting Project."

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings methodology. This involves establishing permanent native tree cover, specifically Mallee eucalypt species, on land that was previously cleared and used for agriculture (cropping or grazing) for at least five years. The goal is to sequester carbon in the tree biomass as it grows. Mallee plantings are well-suited to this region, which is characterized by a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with winter-dominant rainfall (typically 300-400mm annually) and soils that are often calcareous or sandy loam, historically prone to wind erosion when cleared.

Engage Marine, a prominent Australian towage and marine services provider, developed this farm to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from its tug fleet that cannot yet be eliminated through operational efficiencies. Corporate literature indicates plans to plant approximately 550,000 trees across the site, aiming not only for carbon abatement but also to expand an adjacent nature reserve and enhance local biodiversity. The project is facilitated by agent Anthony Hull, who acts as the primary contact for several similar carbon initiatives in the region.