Nippon2026R_GRTAggregation_S2

Nippon2026R_GRTAggregation_S2 is a plantation forestry project located in the Green Triangle region of south-western Victoria, roughly 35km north of Portland. It was registered in May 2026 and covers an initial area of approximately 1,500 hectares, with exploratory plans to expand up to 10,000 hectares following a project variation in July 2026.

Plantation forestry projects generate carbon credits by establishing new plantation forests, maintaining unharvested plantations, or converting short-rotation forests to long-rotation ones. Standard methodology requirements dictate maintaining a tree stocking density capable of reaching a forest cover of at least 20% crown cover and a height of two metres, while actively managing the estate for the commercial harvesting of wood products.

The Green Triangle region, spanning the Glenelg, Moyne, and Southern Grampians local government areas, is famous for its extensive commercial forestry operations, sheep and cattle grazing, and broadacre cropping. The area is classified as high rainfall, generally receiving between 600mm and 800mm annually. Soils in the region vary significantly, ranging from permeable sandy loams over limestone to rich volcanic basalt clays.

This project sequesters carbon by converting an existing short-rotation plantation forest to a long-rotation plantation forest for commercial harvesting. Interestingly, the project proponent, Nippon Paper Resources Australia, announced in July 2026 that this transition specifically involves phasing out aging hardwood plantations, originally established in 1996 for pulpwood, and replacing them with long-rotation softwood radiata pine. This switch not only secures carbon stocks over the project's nominated 25-year permanence period, but the harvested timber will be redirected to supply Australia's growing residential construction market rather than feeding paper and packaging mills.