FPC 2025 CP2

FPC 2025 CP2 is a plantation forestry project located approximately 25km west of the town of Frankland River and roughly 80km east of Manjimup in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. Registered in July 2025, the project covers a substantial area of 1,359 hectares. The region is well-regarded for its diverse agricultural outputs, specifically viticulture, grazing, and significant forestry estates, owing to its favourable climate and soil conditions.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. It specifically utilises Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 activities, which involve establishing new plantation forests and converting existing short-rotation plantations to long-rotation plantations. In the context of the Western Australian forestry sector, this typically involves converting land previously used for short-rotation Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) pulpwood crops into long-rotation Softwood (Pinus radiata) estates. By extending the rotation period from approximately 10–15 years (pulpwood) to 30+ years (sawlogs), the project significantly increases the average carbon stocks held on the land over time.

Environmentally, the site sits within a high-rainfall zone of the Great Southern, likely receiving between 700mm and 900mm of annual rainfall, which decreases as one moves inland from the coast. The terrain in this area is characterised by lateritic gravels and sandy loams, often referred to as "gravelly marri loams", which are highly suitable for both deep-rooted plantation trees and premium wine grapes.

This project is part of the Forest Products Commission's (FPC) strategic expansion under the Western Australian Government's $350 million Softwood Plantation Investment Program. Following the cessation of native forest logging in WA in 2024, the FPC has pivoted heavily towards expanding its softwood estate to secure future timber supplies for the construction industry while simultaneously generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to support the state's climate resilience goals.