'Greening Australia and Canopy Nature Based Solutions: SA Restoration Program 2025

'Greening Australia and Canopy Nature Based Solutions: SA Restoration Program 2025' is an environmental planting project located at multiple sites in South Australia, notably near Elliston on the Eyre Peninsula and near Yankalilla on the Fleurieu Peninsula (approximately 72km south of Adelaide). It was registered in August 2024 and covers an area of 2720.30 ha.

Environmental planting projects under the FullCAM methodology involve establishing permanent, mixed native tree species on land that was predominantly used for agricultural purposes for at least five years prior to project commencement. Standard rules dictate that these plantings must be established at a density of at least 200 stems per hectare and must have the potential to reach at least 2 meters in height with a 20% crown cover.

Because this is a multi-site project spanning different agricultural zones, the environmental conditions and regional land uses vary significantly. The Elliston region on the Eyre Peninsula is semi-arid, featuring sandy loam and calcareous soils, and is typically used for broadacre cropping and sheep grazing. In contrast, the Yankalilla area on the Fleurieu Peninsula experiences a moderate, Mediterranean climate with higher annual rainfall (around 825mm). The soils here range from productive loams to clays, supporting livestock grazing, dairying, and conventional farming.

This project is managed by Canopy Nature Based Solutions, a for-purpose environmental enterprise operating under Greening Australia. Set up with a nominated permanence period of 25 years, the initiative goes beyond simply sequestering carbon for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). The permanent plantings are carefully designed to generate significant co-benefits, including the restoration of natural habitats for threatened wildlife, the provision of vital shade and shelter for farm animals, and the mitigation of soil erosion across agricultural landscapes.