CARBON EUCALYPTS

The FPC is working in partnership with organisations that wish to reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions, to plant tree form and mallee eucalypts as carbon sinks. These plantings absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere storing the carbon in the plant's roots, stem and branches. These plantings must remain unharvested for a long period of time to qualify as a carbon sink under the arrangments.

Depending on the site, FPC can plant multi-stemmed mallees or single-stemmed tree-form eucalypts, giving the landowner flexibility to select the best possible option for their land. The main species currently being planted are blue mallee (Eucalyptus polybractea), york gum (E. loxophleba susp lissophloia), river red gum (E. camaldulensis) and sugar gum (E. cladocalyx). Other species may be available from time to time. 

Generally these plantings will require minimal maintenance and care in the longer term. FPC would prefer to integrate plantings into existing agricultural land to provide other benefits to the landowner such as shelter for stock and protection from land and water degradation. 

Rather than harvesting the trees, the FPC will measure the carbon absorbed at regular intervals using research and knowledge gained over the last 20 years. The FPC will work with the landowner to manage the plantings over the life of the project and can also work with the landowner to organise harvesting of the trees if arrangments allow.