Greening Australia and Canopy Nature Based Solutions: VIC and SA Restoration Program 2025

Greening Australia and Canopy Nature Based Solutions: VIC and SA Restoration Program 2025 is an environmental planting project located across three diverse sites. These include land near Tintinara in South Australia's Upper South East (approximately 200km southeast of Adelaide), the Eyre Peninsula near Elliston (around 150km northwest of Port Lincoln, SA), and the South Gippsland region near Korumburra and Inverloch (approximately 110km southeast of Melbourne, VIC). It was registered in May 2025 and covers a total area of 1276.93 hectares.

Environmental planting projects under the 2024 FullCAM methodology involve establishing permanent, mixed-species native forests on land previously used for agriculture. A standard requirement for this project type is planting at a sufficient stocking density, typically at least 200 stems per hectare, to achieve a minimum 20% forest canopy cover and a height of two metres at maturity. For this project, the chosen mix of native tree and shrub species heavily reflects the natural structure and composition of the local native vegetation communities.

The regional land use and environmental conditions vary significantly across the three coordinates. The South Australian sites on the Eyre Peninsula and Upper South East feature semi-arid climates with sandy loam and calcareous soils. These areas are traditionally used for broadacre wheat cropping and sheep grazing. In contrast, the South Gippsland location in Victoria experiences high rainfall and features fertile clay and loam soils, historically supporting intensive dairy and beef cattle farming.

The project proponent, Canopy Nature Based Solutions Pty Ltd, is a for-purpose environmental enterprise established by Greening Australia, a prominent organisation with over 40 years of experience delivering large-scale native reforestation. Beyond capturing carbon, these multi-species plantings are designed to restore threatened woodland habitats, address erosion, and provide shade and shelter for livestock. Notably, carbon credits generated from Canopy's biodiversity and habitat restoration projects have previously commanded premium pricing in the voluntary market, often referred to as "koala-friendly" ACCUs due to their strong ecological co-benefits.