Tiwi Plantation Carbon Project One

Tiwi Plantation Carbon Project One is a plantation forestry project located on Melville Island, part of the Tiwi Islands group approximately 80km north of Darwin in the Northern Territory. The project was registered in August 2025 and covers a significant area of roughly 2,709 hectares.

Plantation forestry projects under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme involve establishing new timber plantations or converting short-rotation plantations to long-rotation schedules. These projects generate carbon credits by sequestering carbon in the trees as they grow, while still allowing for commercial harvest events. In the context of the Tiwi Islands, this typically involves the cultivation of Acacia mangium (and historically Pinus caribaea) for the export woodchip market.

The region is defined by a tropical monsoonal climate with very high rainfall, often exceeding 1,500mm to 2,000mm annually, particularly during the wet season. The soils on Melville Island are predominantly deep red and yellow sandy soils (Kandosols) and lateritic earths, which are well-suited to rapid forestry growth despite being naturally nutrient-poor. The island's land use is a mix of Indigenous cultural use, conservation areas, and established forestry operations which serve as a major economic driver for the local Tiwi community.

A notable aspect of this project is its management by Plantation Management Partners Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the ASX-listed forestry company Midway Limited. Public reports suggest this project is part of a "second rotation" strategy, aiming to replant and expand the island's forestry estate to secure long-term woodchip supply for Asian markets while simultaneously generating carbon revenue. The project aligns with broader efforts to create a sustainable economy for the Tiwi people through integrated land management.