Sustainable Timber Tasmania ACCU scheme project 5 - short to long rotation conversion of plantation

Sustainable Timber Tasmania ACCU scheme project 5 - short to long rotation conversion of plantation is a plantation forestry project spanning multiple sites across Tasmania. Based on the coordinates, the locations include sites south of Burnie in the north-west, near Scottsdale and Bridport in the north-east, and the Huon Valley south of Hobart. The project was registered in August 2025 by Forestry Tasmania (which trades as Sustainable Timber Tasmania) and covers a total area of 303.55 hectares.

Plantation forestry projects under this methodology involve converting existing short-rotation plantation forests, typically harvested early at around 15 years for woodchips and pulpwood, into long-rotation forests. By extending the growth period of the trees, the project ultimately produces structural timber products such as sawlogs. This delays the harvest and ensures that carbon is sequestered both in the living forest for longer and subsequently in long-lived harvested wood products.

The regional land use across these specific Tasmanian project locations is heavily dominated by commercial forestry operations, conservation reserves, and agriculture, particularly grazing and dairy farming. Tasmania’s major forestry regions generally experience high annual rainfall, providing excellent growing conditions. The soils vary across the dispersed sites but commonly include fertile, well-draining ferrosols in the north-west and podzols or kurosols in the north-east, which are highly suited to supporting dense commercial timber plantations.

As an additional note, Sustainable Timber Tasmania utilizes the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme not only to contribute to climate mitigation but to help support the commercial viability of transitioning their timber operations to high-value, long-term durable wood products.