Cultura Australia Plantation Project No. 3

Cultura Australia Plantation Project No. 3 is a plantation forestry project located across multiple sites in the South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia, including areas near Bridgetown-Greenbushes and Cranbrook. It was registered on February 9, 2026, and covers an area of 1047.47 ha.

Plantation forestry projects operating under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative-Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022 involve establishing new plantation forests or converting short-rotation plantations to long-rotation operations to increase stored carbon. A standard requirement for new plantations is that they must be established on land that has been clear of forest for at least seven years. This specific project sequesters carbon by establishing and maintaining a new plantation forest for the commercial harvesting of wood products, storing carbon both in the growing trees and eventually in long-lived harvested timber off-site.

The region spanning the Shires of Bridgetown-Greenbushes and Cranbrook is heavily defined by the timber industry, with general land use characterized by a mix of native forest management, commercial plantations, and grazing agriculture. The surrounding environment is situated in a high-rainfall zone with a Mediterranean climate, providing ideal conditions for rapid tree growth. Soils across this area are characteristically lateritic gravels and well-drained karri loams which are highly suitable for forestry operations.

The project expanded following variations to the project area in April and June 2026, where additional land was added. Interestingly, the proponent, Cultura Australia Pty Ltd, manages several similar forestry ACCU projects across Western Australia. The company was recently identified as a recipient of over $1 million in funding under the Australian Government's 'Support Plantation Establishment' program, an initiative designed to expand the national softwood estate. This suggests the project likely involves the planting of softwood species, such as Pinus radiata, for future timber supply.