Little Forest Plantation Schedule 4

Little Forest Plantation Schedule 4 is a Plantation Forestry carbon project located approximately 15km south-east of Mandurama and 45km east of Cowra in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales. Registered on 15 October 2024, the project covers a relatively small area of 40.01 hectares within the Cowra Shire Council local government area. While there is a locality named Little Forest in the Shoalhaven region, this project's coordinates place it inland on a property historically associated with the name "Little Forest" near Mandurama.

The project operates under the 2022 Plantation Forestry methodology, specifically utilizing Schedule 4. This schedule is designed for transitioning an existing plantation forest, typically established for harvest, into a permanent forest. By committing to retain the trees permanently rather than harvesting them, the project prevents the release of stored carbon. A key requirement for this schedule is demonstrating that the plantation was at risk of being converted to non-forested land (such as pasture for grazing) or that it would otherwise undergo clear-felling. This retention strategy ensures long-term carbon sequestration in the timber biomass.

The surrounding Central Tablelands region is characterized by undulating to rolling hills heavily utilized for grazing sheep and cattle, as well as broadacre cropping. The environment in this area typically experiences moderate rainfall, averaging between 600mm and 750mm annually, which supports both native and introduced pastures. The soils are predominantly Red Chromosols (Red Brown Earths) and granitic soils derived from the Bathurst granites, known for being moderately fertile but susceptible to acidity. The "Little Forest" property name suggests a local history of timber cover or a specific microclimate supporting denser vegetation in an otherwise agricultural landscape.