AA2024E_LoonganaP.S3

AA2024E_LoonganaP.S3 is a plantation forestry project located in Loongana, approximately 49km southwest of Ulverstone in the Central Coast Council region of Tasmania. It was registered in May 2024 and covers a project area of 70.28 hectares.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Specifically, this is a Schedule 3 project focused on the avoided conversion of a plantation to non-forested land. This methodology involves maintaining an existing commercial plantation forest that was otherwise scheduled to be cleared and converted to a different land use, such as agricultural pasture. Standard requirements for this project type dictate that the land must continue to be actively managed as a commercial plantation for the harvesting of wood products while continuing to sequester carbon.

The inland North West Tasmania region around Loongana is heavily utilised for agriculture, particularly livestock grazing and dairy farming, as well as both native and intensive plantation forestry. The environment is categorised as a high-rainfall area, driven by cool, wet weather systems that provide robust watering for timber growth and catchments. Soils in the region are highly fertile and are underpinned by weathered siltstones, aeolian silts, and extensive limestone.

An interesting note about this project is that it is managed by SFM Environmental Solutions acting as the agent for the proponent, The Trust Company (Australia) Limited, which serves as the trustee for The Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust. Additionally, the project is located near the Leven Canyon regional reserve, an area where the Leven River cuts the deepest limestone ravine in Tasmania, highlighting the unique natural landscape surrounding these commercial forests.