Empowering Sustainability: The Sunnyside Project

Located on Western Australia’s lush south coast, the Sunnyside Permanent Planting Forest Initiative is the latest groundbreaking project initiated by Perth-based reforestation company Carbon Neutral. This initiative has intricate links with the local Indigenous Mendang people and plays a vital role in Gondwana Link’s landscape restoration efforts.

Preserving precious landscapes

The Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) project, championed by Carbon Neutral and Forever Carbon Corridor Pty Ltd, was officially registered in 2022. This pioneering initiative marks the transformation of a plantation forest into a permanent haven by safeguarding threatened forests from conversion into non-forested areas.

Amidst the alarming trend of converting Australia’s forest plantations into agricultural landscapes, the Sunnyside project faced bulldozing for farmland conversion, as has occurred with neighbouring plantations. This initiative safeguards 560 hectares of land enveloped in eucalyptus plantations, ensuring their status as a thriving forest reserve. Halting the loss of sequestered carbon that would have resulted from tree clearing or harvesting, Sunnyside generates vital carbon abatement, and contributes to our planet’s sustainability.

Biodiversity and a haven for endangered species.

Sunnyside’s impact extends beyond carbon sequestration on the 560 ha plantation. It also protects and conserves an additional 750 hectares of precious freehold natural habitat on the property. In this expanse of untouched wilderness, countless species find refuge and thrive, embodying our commitment to coexist harmoniously with nature.

Sunnyside is also home to over 300 species of native flora, including 13 species listed as conservation priorities by the Western Australian Government. Additionally, much of the property’s bushland, a form of Kwongkan Shrublands, is classified as a nationally listed Threatened Ecological Community.

Empowering Indigenous involvement and pioneering sustainability

Recognising the area’s significance to the local Menang people, Carbon Neutral, guided by the Gondwana organisation, has facilitated increased engagement and involvement of Indigenous communities in the Sunnyside project. Through participatory planning processes and hands-on involvement in restoration efforts, First Nations Elders and community members contribute to the preservation and enhancement of their ancestral lands. As part of the wider Noongar nation, it was vitally important that the connection to Country was prioritised and maintained for the Menang people that are local to the area.

The Sunnyside Permanent Plantation Forestry project pioneers innovative ecological planting techniques, integrating bush tucker plants and fostering habitat restoration without compromising existing ecosystems. This collaborative effort not only improves biodiversity but also creates opportunities for future food harvesting and the cultivation of bushfood species.

Showcase your support to connected communities and thriving ecosystems

Is investing in high-integrity carbon credits and biodiversity a priority for your business?

Carbon Neutral is proud to offer carbon credits (ACCUs) from the Sunnyside initiative, issued by the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Regulator. This transition from plantation forestry to permanent plantation results in significant net carbon abatement and delivers strong environmental and cultural co-benefits that can be linked with your organisation’s climate and ESG strategy.

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