AA2026R_RoyalGeorge_S1S3

AA2026R_RoyalGeorge_S1S3 is a Plantation Forestry project located in the vicinity of Royal George, a small rural locality situated approximately 20 kilometers southeast of Avoca in the Fingal Valley region of Tasmania. Registered on April 17, 2025, the project covers a total area of approximately 328 hectares. The surrounding region is historically characterized by a mix of forestry operations (softwood and hardwood) and dryland grazing, with the Fingal Valley serving as a significant corridor for Tasmania's timber industry.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Specifically, the "S1S3" designation in the project name indicates a hybrid approach utilizing two distinct schedules of the methodology: Schedule 1, which involves establishing a new plantation forest on land that has been clear of forest for at least seven years, and Schedule 3, which focuses on "Avoided Conversion." The latter ensures that an existing plantation, which might otherwise be converted to non-forested agricultural land (such as pasture), is maintained as a forest, thereby protecting the stored carbon.

Environmentally, the Royal George area typically experiences a cool-temperate climate with moderate rainfall, generally averaging between 600mm and 800mm annually, often lower than the state's western districts due to rain shadow effects. The local soils are diverse, frequently consisting of texture-contrast soils derived from granite (given the area's history of tin mining) or sedimentary bases common to the North East, which support both Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus nitens plantations. The project is managed by SFM Environmental Solutions, a prominent Tasmanian forest manager, on behalf of The Trust Company (Australia) Limited, acting as trustee for an institutional investment vehicle known as The Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust.