Australia is set to host its largest-ever forestry-based carbon project by land area, following the submission of a new application to the Clean Energy Regulator. The proposed Environmental Plantings (EP) initiative will span 30,000 hectares and aims to establish native trees across land that has been clear of forest cover for at least five years.
Visual of a reforestation project in Australia. AI generated image
The project, developed by Carbon Neutral, is expected to be rolled out over the next three years and is projected to generate around 5 million Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) over its crediting period. At a market rate of $34,5 (AUD 54) per tonne of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e)—the highest price among credit types in Australia—these EP ACCUs represent a significant value proposition in the domestic carbon market.
The developer behind the proposal is also eyeing further expansion, with an additional 4,000 hectares planned under EP and plantation forestry schemes in 2025. This scaling effort comes amid heightened demand for high-integrity carbon offsets, particularly those tied to nature-based solutions.
Read more: High-quality carbon credits vs regular carbon credits: what sets them apart?
In a sign of growing industry engagement, the company has recently entered into a deal with mining giant BHP, which operates under Australia’s Safeguard Mechanism. The arrangement signals a tightening link between carbon credit supply and corporate decarbonisation strategies.
While the developer has not commented publicly, it continues to build on a robust portfolio. Beyond its EP and Human-Induced Regeneration work, it also manages Australia’s only Gold Standard-certified forestry project. The Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor, a native reforestation effort, is restoring 200 kilometres of habitat on degraded farmland and is expected to sequester 1.1 million tCO₂e over a 50-year horizon.
With project scale, certification diversity, and corporate partnerships aligning, this development points to a maturing market where nature-based solutions play an increasingly central role.
Read more: Carbon credit prices climb to four-month high in Australia
At DGB Group, we are not just participating in the carbon market—we are shaping its future through large-scale, nature-based projects that restore ecosystems and generate high-integrity carbon units. As landmark initiatives like Australia’s 30,000-hectare EP project highlight the growing appetite for transparent, verifiable offsets, the role of reforestation in environmental and sustainability strategies becomes increasingly urgent and lucrative. With prices for quality units reaching new highs and corporate commitments deepening, the opportunity to align your business with tomorrow's requirements is now.
