Landari Highland Lakes 2025

Landari Highland Lakes 2025 is a plantation forestry project located in the Central Highlands region of Tasmania, approximately 15 kilometres northwest of the historic town of Bothwell. Registered on July 23, 2025, the project initially covered 1576.63 hectares before a variation was approved in December 2025 to add further land to the project area. The Central Highlands region is traditionally known for sheep grazing (particularly wool production) and forestry operations, but is increasingly serving as a significant hub for renewable energy developments, including nearby solar and wind farms.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Plantation forestry projects typically sequester carbon by establishing new plantations or, as in this case, avoiding the conversion of an existing or harvested plantation to non-forested land. Standard requirements for this methodology involve adhering to specific stocking densities to achieve and maintain forest canopy cover, whilst actively managing the plantation for the commercial harvesting of wood products over defined rotations. The permanence period for the carbon stored in this project has been nominated at 25 years.

Environmentally, the Bothwell area sits within a rain shadow, giving it a relatively dry, temperate climate compared to the wetter, alpine areas of the Central Highlands. It typically receives a mid-range annual rainfall of around 530 to 540 mm. The region's soils are largely derived from Jurassic dolerite, resulting in predominantly reddish-brown stony clays, podzolic soils, and fine sandy loams that are highly suitable for established forestry but can be challenging for intensive cropping.

Interestingly, the project proponent, Peter Downie, is a highly regarded sixth-generation farmer whose family has operated their Dungrove property in the Central Highlands for over 150 years. Downie is a pioneer in sustainable land management; he helped establish Australia's first carbon project development company in 2007 and owns the very first commercial forest in Australia to achieve Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. Supported by agent Arjan Wilkie, this carbon project operates alongside Downie's other progressive ventures, which include co-developing large-scale renewable energy infrastructure like the Cattle Hill and Cellars Hill wind farms to support Tasmania's net-zero transition.