Western Treefarm Project WTP1B (Shine)

Western Treefarm Project WTP1B (Shine) is a plantation forestry project located approximately 30km southeast of Collie in the Shire of Boyup Brook, Western Australia. Registered in December 2025, the project covers nearly 199 hectares of land in a region deeply integrated with the state's timber and agricultural industries. The "Shine" property operates under the management of Mitsui & Co. Wood Resources Oceania, a major player in the Australian forestry sector known for managing large-scale woodchip and plantation operations.

The project operates under the 2022 Plantation Forestry methodology, specifically utilizing the "short-rotation to long-rotation" conversion activity. This approach involves altering the management of an existing plantation, typically established for short-cycle pulpwood production, to a longer cycle suitable for sawlogs or structural timber. To qualify, the project proponent must extend the rotation period by at least 10 years and often implement thinning or pruning regimes that encourage the growth of high-quality, larger-diameter trees, thereby sequestering carbon for longer periods both in the forest and in long-lived wood products.

Environmentally, the site sits within the Darling Plateau, a region characterized by a Mediterranean climate with cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The area typically receives moderate to high annual rainfall (ranging between 700mm and 900mm), which is critical for supporting commercial blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) or pine plantations. The soils in this locality are predominantly lateritic gravels and sandy loams, which are well-drained and highly suitable for deep-rooted forestry crops, though they can be nutrient-poor without management.

This project represents a strategic shift for Mitsui & Co., leveraging existing timber assets to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) while continuing commercial harvest operations. By converting to a long-rotation model, the project not only increases the carbon stock on the land but also potentially shifts the timber output towards higher-value construction materials rather than paper products.