Carbon trade brings wind of tree change to Wheatbelt

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The Wheatbelt is poised for a tree change under the Federal Government’s carbon trading legislation, with farmers hoping to cash in on plans for tree plantations.

The oil mallee industry in WA could expand from 14,000ha of plantings to well over 100,000ha within a decade as big carbon emitting companies look for ways to reduce their liability.

WA company Carbon Conscious will begin small plantings of native mallee eucalypt trees of about 1500ha this winter. Chief executive Peter Balsarini said expressions of interest for up to 40,000ha had been registered by WA farmers for use in the trading scheme.

The company acts as a middle agency, selling carbon credits to emitters who will have a liability under the trading scheme and is targeting marginal farmland through a carbon sharefarming arrangement with landholders.

Oil Mallee Association general manager Simon Dawkins said if plantation programs were well designed, the trees could improve the productivity on the rest of the farm.

“Integrated and strategic mallee plantings do not compete with food production, in fact they have considerable landcare benefits, reduce wind and water erosion and increase biodiversity,” he said.

About 1500 and 2000 oil mallees can be planted per hectare.

The Sadler family, who farm southeast of Wongan Hills, have planted more than 150,000 oil mallees over the past decade to manage salinity and erosion.

Darren Sadler said the trees had made a difference in managing a rising water table and recently they had planted rows along fence lines as wind breaks.

They hoped to continue plantings for land care purposes. Any potential earnings through the carbon pollution reduction scheme would be “a bonus”.