AA2024R_LanesTierP_S3

AA2024R_LanesTierP_S3 is a plantation forestry project located at Lanes Tier, approximately 9km north of Ouse in Tasmania's scenic Derwent Valley. Registered in May 2024, the project covers an area of 169.74 hectares. The surrounding Central Highlands region is historically known for a mix of sheep and cattle grazing, alongside extensive commercial softwood and hardwood forestry operations.

Under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022, projects can sequester carbon by establishing new plantations, extending rotation lengths, or preventing the conversion of existing plantations. This specific project involves the avoided conversion of an existing plantation to non-forested land by continuing its forestry operations. This methodology ensures ongoing carbon storage in both the standing forest estate and the harvested wood products, with standard requirements including maintaining appropriate commercial tree stocking densities and adhering to specific commercial harvesting regimes.

The Ouse and Central Highlands region experiences a cool temperate climate, with lower-lying areas receiving an average of 511mm to 530mm of annual rainfall, which typically increases at higher elevations such as Lanes Tier. The soils in the area vary from stony, dolerite-derived gradational soils to grey kurosols and podzols. While these soil types can be less fertile for intensive agricultural cropping, they are highly suitable and heavily utilized for supporting robust commercial plantation forestry.

A notable aspect of this project is its proponent, The Trust Company (Australia) Limited as trustee for The Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust, which operates a broader institutional investment portfolio across multiple forestry sites in Tasmania. Furthermore, the project involves SFM Environmental Solutions Pty Ltd, a 100% Tasmanian-owned independent natural asset management company. SFM provides certified forest management for fund-owned plantation estates and is actively involved in carbon forestry initiatives like the ActivAcre program, which seeks to transform underutilised agricultural land into sustainable timber and high-integrity carbon assets.