AA2025R_SouthEastL_S1S2

AA2025R_SouthEastL_S1S2 is a plantation forestry project located across two distinct regions in southern Tasmania: the Derwent Valley and the East Coast. The project comprises aggregated land areas, with one site situated approximately 3km southwest of Westerway (near Mount Field National Park) and the other approximately 6km northwest of Orford. Registered on June 13, 2025, the project covers approximately 105 hectares and is managed by SFM Environmental Solutions, with The Trust Company (Australia) Limited acting as the trustee for the underlying investment vehicle, The Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust.

The project operates under the Plantation Forestry Methodology Determination 2022, specifically engaging in two key activities: establishing new plantation forests on land previously used for grazing or cropping (Schedule 1), and converting existing short-rotation plantations, typically harvested for woodchips, into long-rotation plantations destined for high-value sawlogs (Schedule 2). This conversion allows trees to grow for longer periods (often 25+ years), significantly increasing the average volume of carbon stored in the landscape compared to the rapid turnover of pulpwood crops. As a commercial forestry project, the trees will eventually be harvested, but the credits are generated based on the long-term average increase in carbon stocks and the carbon stored in the resulting wood products.

Regionally, the project sites differ slightly in environmental character but are both prime forestry zones. The Derwent Valley site benefits from higher rainfall (typical of the Mount Field foothills) and fertile podzolic or alluvial soils, supporting vigorous growth. The East Coast site near Orford experiences a drier, temperate climate with rainfall averaging 600-800mm, where native forests and grazing are the dominant surrounding land uses. The project's authorized agent, Billie Jones, is a Carbon Project Coordinator at SFM, highlighting the increasing professionalization and integration of carbon finance within Tasmania's traditional timber industry.