Shaster Downs Permanent Bluegum Plantation

Shaster Downs Permanent Bluegum Plantation is a plantation forestry project located at the "Shaster Downs" property, approximately 26km southwest of the small town of Munglinup and 130km west of the regional centre of Esperance in Western Australia. Registered on March 17, 2025, the project covers a registered area of roughly 341 hectares. The surrounding region lies within the Shire of Ravensthorpe and is part of the Esperance Sandplains, an area historically dominated by mixed farming (cropping and livestock) and, since the early 2000s, commercial bluegum forestry.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Specifically, it utilizes the activity involving the "transition to a permanent forest." This methodology is designed for existing commercial plantations, in this case, likely Tasmanian Bluegums (Eucalyptus globulus) established around 2002, that are at risk of being harvested and converted back to non-forested agricultural land. By cancelling the harvest and maintaining the trees permanently, the project generates credits for the carbon stored in the standing biomass.

Environmentally, the site sits in a moderate rainfall zone, receiving approximately 525mm annually. The terrain features a diverse mix of soil types characteristic of the region, including sandy duplexes, deep sands, and soils overlying lateritic gravel and clay. A notable aspect of this project is its ownership structure; public records link the proponent, The Tijuk Foundation, to the Esperance Tjaltjraak Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (ETNTAC). The property was reportedly acquired with impact lending support from Bank Australia to facilitate Indigenous ownership, allowing the Traditional Owners to manage the land for carbon farming, cultural connection, and economic self-determination.