SFA NBS 1815 Bengworden

SFA NBS 1815 Bengworden is a plantation forestry project located in the rural locality of Bengworden, approximately 25km southwest of the regional centre of Bairnsdale in East Gippsland, Victoria. Registered in June 2024, the project covers 91.91 hectares. The wider Gippsland region is a significant agricultural zone, traditionally dominated by dryland grazing (sheep and beef) and dairy, but it also hosts a robust forestry sector due to its proximity to processing facilities and suitable transport infrastructure.

The project is developed by SFA Nature Based Solutions, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Forestry Australia. This initiative appears to be part of a larger strategic acquisition by Sumitomo, which announced the purchase of approximately 957 hectares in the Gippsland region in early 2024 to establish softwood plantations. The project’s primary goal is to grow renewable timber, likely Pinus radiata, to supply the domestic housing construction market (linked to builders like Metricon) while simultaneously generating carbon credits. The 91-hectare registered area represents the specific plantation footprint, with the proponent publicly committing to retaining significant portions of their properties for continued farming, grazing, and conservation.

Operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022, the project falls under Schedule 1, which governs the establishment of a new plantation forest on land that has not been forested for at least seven years. Unlike permanent environmental plantings, this methodology is designed for commercial harvest rotations. It accounts for carbon sequestered in the trees during growth and crediting calculations include the long-term carbon storage in the harvested wood products.

The local environment at Bengworden typically experiences moderate annual rainfall of approximately 600mm, which is generally adequate for softwood plantations, though the area can be subject to dry spells due to rain shadow effects from the ranges. The soil profile in this part of East Gippsland is often characterized by texture-contrast soils, featuring sandy loams or loamy sands overlying clay subsoils. These free-draining surface soils are generally well-suited to deep-rooted forestry species.