Lenah2025R_Elderslie_S3

Lenah2025R_Elderslie_S3 is a plantation forestry project located in Elderslie, Tasmania, approximately 45 kilometres northwest of Hobart. Registered in August 2025, the project covers 332 hectares in the Southern Midlands region. The area is situated near the transition between the Derwent Valley and the drier midlands, a landscape traditionally characterized by mixed grazing (sheep and cattle) and forestry operations.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022. Specifically, it involves the "avoided conversion" activity. This requires the proponent to demonstrate that the plantation land was at risk of being converted to non-forested land (such as pasture for agriculture) following harvest. By registering the project, the proponent commits to re-establishing and maintaining the plantation forest, thereby sequestering carbon in the timber and avoiding the emissions associated with clearing and land-use change.

Environmentally, the Elderslie region lies in a partial rain shadow, receiving significantly less rainfall than Tasmania's west coast, typically around 450mm to 600mm annually. The soils in this vicinity are generally derived from sedimentary geology (sandstone/mudstone) with pockets of basalt, supporting dry sclerophyll forests and radiata pine plantations.

A key aspect of this project is its participants. The proponent, Lenah Estate Pty Ltd, represents a major forestry asset (formerly Norske Skog’s plantations) owned by investment firm New Forests. The estate is managed by SFM Environmental Solutions, a prominent Tasmanian forest manager. The timber from this estate often supplies the Norske Skog Boyer Mill, highlighting the project's dual role in carbon sequestration and supporting the local timber industry.