Gippsland 2024 Carbon Project

Gippsland 2024 Carbon Project is a plantation forestry project primarily situated in the Gippsland region of Victoria, with additional sites extending into the state's west and northeast. Registered in June 2024, the project covers approximately 672 hectares. While the project is named for the Gippsland region, the specific land parcels are dispersed: key sites are located in the Strzelecki Ranges and coastal plains near the major towns of Traralgon and Sale, while outlier coupes are found near Beaufort (west of Ballarat) and Mitta Mitta (near the Alpine National Park).

The project operates under the "Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022." Specifically, it utilizes the "avoided conversion" activity. This means the project proponent, Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP), has committed to maintaining plantation forests on land that was otherwise scheduled to be converted to non-forested uses, such as agriculture or grazing, following harvest. To qualify, the proponent must demonstrate a clear risk that the plantation would have been cleared and not replanted without the incentive of carbon credits.

The Gippsland region is a premier forestry and agricultural hub, characterized by high reliable rainfall (typically exceeding 600mm annually) and productive soil profiles ranging from the fertile red ferrosols of the Strzelecki Ranges to the sandy podosols of the coastal lowlands. The region supports extensive dairy, beef, and timber industries. HVP is one of Australia's largest private timber plantation companies, managing over 230,000 hectares of estate. An interesting facet of HVP's operations in this region is their management of the "Chain of Ponds" ecosystem near their Stockdale plantation, protecting deep pools within the Perry River catchment.