Chapmans Peak Schedule 4 Carbon Project 2025

Chapmans Peak Schedule 4 Carbon Project 2025 is a plantation forestry project located in the Clarence Valley region of New South Wales, approximately 50km northwest of Grafton and 50km southwest of Casino. Registered on August 8, 2025, the project covers a significant area of 664.33 hectares. The surrounding region is characterized by a mix of state forests and grazing properties, typical of the NSW Northern Rivers hinterland.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022, specifically utilising 'Schedule 4'. This activity involves transitioning an existing plantation forest, which would otherwise be harvested and converted to non-forested land (such as pasture for grazing), into a permanent forest. By maintaining the trees permanently rather than clearing them, the project generates carbon credits for the avoided emissions and continued sequestration. A key requirement for this schedule is demonstrating that the plantation was at genuine risk of conversion to a non-forest land use.

Environmentally, the site sits within a subtropical climate zone with high rainfall, predominantly falling in summer. The soils in this upper Clarence Valley area are typically a mix of Chromosols and Kurosols (duplex soils), which support both native vegetation and commercial timber plantations. The project aims to secure long-term carbon storage by shifting the land management strategy from commercial harvest cycles to permanent conservation.