AA2026R_McDonaldL_S1S3

AA2026R_McDonaldL_S1S3 is a Plantation Forestry project located in the Dorset local government area, approximately 35km northeast of Launceston in Tasmania. It was registered in December 2025 and covers an area of 63.65 hectares. The North East Tasmania region is well known for extensive commercial forestry operations, as well as grazing and broadacre agricultural land uses.

Plantation Forestry projects involve sequestering carbon by establishing and maintaining new plantation forests, or avoiding the conversion of an existing or harvested plantation to non-forested land. These forests are established and managed specifically for the commercial harvesting of wood products, ensuring long-term carbon storage while continuing to support the regional timber industry.

The environment in the Dorset region features a temperate maritime climate classified as a moderate to high rainfall zone, typically receiving between 750mm and over 1000mm annually. Soils in this forestry-heavy region are highly diverse, often consisting of rich basalt-derived ferrosols, texture-contrast soils, and gradational soils over granite, which provide excellent conditions for deep-rooted plantation trees.

An interesting aspect of this project is its association with the proponent, The Tasmanian Carbon Afforestation Sub-Trust, and the project agent, SFM Environmental Solutions. SFM manages a Tasmanian-focused initiative called ActivAcre. This program partners with local farmers and landowners to lease underutilised land for carbon forestry. This model not only diversifies landowner income through the carbon market, but also provides agricultural co-benefits such as improved shade and shelter for livestock, soil conservation, and water quality improvements.