Two men in hats and glasses standing behind a trailer full of seedlings

Ballardong Noongar Country

Gabbin, WA

Located in the northern Wheatbelt of WA, this 52-hectare planting site is part of a larger property owned by a local farming family. Before being cleared in the early 1900s, much of this region was covered with native Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) woodlands. Without the protection of trees and shrubs, the land has suffered significant wind erosion and soil degradation.

By planting a mix of native species alongside the sandalwood, this project aims to restore native vegetation and improve the eroded landscape. After 25 years, the landholders will be able to harvest the valuable sandalwood timber, creating a mutually beneficial restoration model for all involved.

  • One-off
  • Monthly

Single Gift

 

Monthly Gift

 

Your donation contributes directly to the planting of more trees.

Hectares
PLANTED
K
Seedlings Planted
Species
Planted

Project overview

  • Planting type: Biodiverse Sandalwood
  • Region: Western Australian Wheatbelt
  • Planted: 2021, 2022 & 2023
  • Size: 52 hectares
  • Seedling count: 30,448
  • Seed weight: 96 kg
  • Partner: FarmWoods and Sandalwood Solutions
  • ERF registered: Yes (Farm Forestry Methodology)
  • Legal permanence: 25 years

Latest news

Man standing next to tall tree.

monitoring

April 2025

Sam and Liv (CPA) completed the fourth-year monitoring assessment, revealing significant growth across both planting areas. Since 2024, trees in the South East block had an average height increase of 25% to 0.85 metres, while trees in the North West block had a 16% increase to 1.16 metres. The tallest tree measured was an Acacia acuminata, reaching an impressive 2.9 metres in height.

monitoring

July 2023

This April we returned to the site to conduct the annual monitoring assessment. The results indicated that the infill of seedlings and sandalwood nuts in 2023 is doing exceptionally well. The average density has increased by 12.9% in the North West block and 62% in the South East block. The tallest tree measured was an Acacia yorkrakinensis at 2.4 metres tall.

Woman filling up her planting bucket with seedlings ready for planting from back of a ute.

Infill planting

July 2023

The CPA team were joined by Ros (Sandalwood Solutions) and a fantastic group of volunteers to infill patchy areas of the site. The team hand-planted a total of 3,488 seedlings (Eucalyptus and Acacia species) and sowed an additional 25 kg of sandalwood nuts next to established host species across the site.

A man wearing a black t-shirt with "PaperCut" written on the front flagged by two women wearing green shirts with "Carbon Positive Australia" on the front. All three are holding a seedling out to the camera.

Infill planting

July 2022

An additional 7,400 Acacia acuminata (‘Jam wattle’) seedlings were hand-planted across the site to increase the number of sandalwood host trees. Ros and the CPA team were joined by Jamie, a representative from PaperCut, who are long-time supporters of our work.

Person standing in the distance of a paddock

Monitoring

May 2022

The first complete monitoring assessment was conducted in May, with 14 permanent plots set up across the 52 hectares. Results showed promising high survival rates overall, however, the average density was variable between plots. This is most likely due to different areas being more susceptible to wind and water erosion.

A bucket of Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) seeds de-husked and ready to be sown.

Sandalwood Planting

April 2022

In April, Ros MacFarlane and her team planted 50 kg of Sandalwood seed into existing rows, alongside Acacia acuminate (‘Jam wattle’) hosts.

Two people on either side of a trailer filled with seedling trays

planting

July 2021

After several rain delays, Ros MacFarlane (Sandalwood Solutions) and the Avongro team hand-planted approximately 18,000 Acacia acuminate (‘Jam wattle’) seedlings across the site. The team used pottiputkis (hand-held mechanical planting devices) to speed up the process.

Bare yellow soil with ripped lines and sparse tree line in the distance

site prep & seeding

May 2021

In May, the site was mechanically ripped and seeded. Ripping helps to loosen the topsoil, making it easier for seedling roots to penetrate and establish successfully. Approximately 6 kg of native seed mix was sown across the site. This mix included several Acacia species which are popular hosts for the hemiparasitic sandal species.

Barren paddock with the front of a car in the bottom left corner

Site Assessment

November 2020

An initial site assessment was undertaken in November 2020. Two areas were recommended for planting, both of which had experienced significant erosion during a recent wind event. The species mix was determined and orders for seed and seedlings were placed with local nurseries.

What we planted

Acacia

7 species
sandalwood host
short lifespan
nitrogen-fixing​

Eucalyptus

2 species
high survivability in nutrient-poor soils
fast maturing tree
utilised for canopy cover

Hakea

1 species
endemic
fire-adapted (germination)
hardy shrub

Santalum

1 species
hemiparasitic
aromatic timber
medicinal properties

Project gallery

Bare yellow soil with ripped lines and sparse tree line in the distance
Planting lines ripped and ready for planting.
Barren paddock with the front of a car in the bottom left corner
Part of the site ripped and ready for planting.
Two men in hats and glasses standing behind a trailer full of seedlings
Avongro team members stocking up on seedlings during planting.
Two people on either side of a trailer filled with seedling trays
Avongro team members collecting seedlings during planting.
Acacia yorkrakinesis ('Soft Leaf Wodjil') growing in a planting row.
Acacia yorkrakinesis (‘Soft Leaf Wodjil’).
Measuring the height of a juvenile Acacia acuminata ('Jam Wattle').
Measuring the height of a juvenile Acacia acuminata (‘Jam Wattle’).
Acacia neurophylla ('Wodjil') seedling hiding between two Acacia yorkrakinesis ('Soft Leaf Wodjil') shrubs.
Acacia neurophylla (‘Wodjil’) seedling hiding between two Acacia yorkrakinesis (‘Soft Leaf Wodjil’) shrubs.
Drone image of planting site with rows
Rows across one planting area showing emerging plants.
Acacia shrub flagged with tape to mark the boundary of a monitoring plot.
Acacia shrub flagged with tape to mark the boundary of a monitoring plot.
Person standing in the distance of a paddock
Ros MacFarlane (Sandalwood Solutions) setting up a monitoring plot.
Great planting row of Acacia shrubs.
Great planting row of Acacia shrubs.
Drone photo of yellow, sandy paddock
The smaller planting area to the east of the property.
Parallel veins on the leaf of an Acacia neurophylla ('Wodjil').
Parallel veins on the leaf of an Acacia neurophylla (‘Wodjil’).
Trailer full of seedlings trays with a yellow seedling bucket
Some of the 7,000+ seedlings on the back of the truck ready to infill patchy areas across the site.
People standing around a white ute with seedlings on the back
The team, including Jamie from PaperCut, getting ready for a big day of planting.
A man wearing a black t-shirt with "PaperCut" written on the front flagged by two women wearing green shirts with "Carbon Positive Australia" on the front. All three are holding a seedling out to the camera.
Jess and Ebony (CPA) with Jamie, a representative from PaperCut who was there to assist with planting. PaperCut are long-time supporters of Carbon Positive Australia.
Three women standing and smiling next to a ute tray full of seedlings.
Ros (Sandalwood Solutions) with Ebony and Gail (CPA) with some of the Acacia acuminata seedlings.
Man standing on the back of a ute tray holding a tray of seedlings
Jamie from PaperCut getting ready to help with the tree planting.
Trays of seedlings on the back of a white truck
Some of the 7,000+ seedlings ready for planting.
Mixed seedlings in a bucket with a pottiputki
Planting bucket full of a biodiverse mix of seedlings ready to be planted.
Woman smiling for a photo standing on yellow soil with a pottiputki
Maddi (CPA) ready to plant some sandalwood seeds.
Woman filling up her planting bucket with seedlings ready for planting from back of a ute.
Lauren (CPA) filling up her bucket with seedlings ready for planting.
Woman holding an Acacia acuminata seedling.
Liv (CPA) holding an Acacia acuminata seedling.
Hand with gardening glove holding sandalwood seeds
Sandalwood seeds ready to be planted.
Woman standing smiling next to a shrub with a bucket full of seedlings.
Jess (CPA) standing next to a well established row of plants.
Sunset over planting rows with pottiputkis
Beautiful sunset to end a day of hand-planting.
Drone image of planting site with rows
Part of the planting area showing excellent establishment.
Drone image of planting site with rows
Well established planting rows.
Women standing behind a tree with a measuring stick.
Liv (CPA) measuring an impressively tall Acacia resinimarginea.
Biodiverse Acacias in the planting area.
Biodiverse Acacias in the planting area.
Revegetation project planting rows.
Planting rows in 2024.
Measuring an Acacia brumalis during the 2024 monitoring assessment.
Acacia brumalis during the 2024 monitoring assessment.
Woman holding measuring stick and standing next to tall tree.
Liv (CPA) standing next to the impressive growth observed during 2025 monitoring.
Aerial view of the trees in planting rows surrounded by remnant bushland.
Aerial view of the trees in planting rows.
Small lizard on sand surrounded by sticks and branches.
Small lizard spotted in the planting area.
Tree and shrubs with measuring stick.
Species diversity observed in the landscape.
Flowering Acacia shrub.
Flowering Acacia resinimarginea.
Lush shrubs in planting rows.
Lush foliage observed in the planting rows.
Bare yellow soil with ripped lines and sparse tree line in the distance
Planting lines ripped and ready for planting.
Barren paddock with the front of a car in the bottom left corner
Part of the site ripped and ready for planting.
Two men in hats and glasses standing behind a trailer full of seedlings
Avongro team members stocking up on seedlings during planting.
Two people on either side of a trailer filled with seedling trays
Avongro team members collecting seedlings during planting.
Acacia yorkrakinesis ('Soft Leaf Wodjil') growing in a planting row.
Acacia yorkrakinesis (‘Soft Leaf Wodjil’).
Measuring the height of a juvenile Acacia acuminata ('Jam Wattle').
Measuring the height of a juvenile Acacia acuminata (‘Jam Wattle’).
Acacia neurophylla ('Wodjil') seedling hiding between two Acacia yorkrakinesis ('Soft Leaf Wodjil') shrubs.
Acacia neurophylla (‘Wodjil’) seedling hiding between two Acacia yorkrakinesis (‘Soft Leaf Wodjil’) shrubs.
Drone image of planting site with rows
Rows across one planting area showing emerging plants.
Acacia shrub flagged with tape to mark the boundary of a monitoring plot.
Acacia shrub flagged with tape to mark the boundary of a monitoring plot.
Person standing in the distance of a paddock
Ros MacFarlane (Sandalwood Solutions) setting up a monitoring plot.
Great planting row of Acacia shrubs.
Great planting row of Acacia shrubs.
Drone photo of yellow, sandy paddock
The smaller planting area to the east of the property.
Parallel veins on the leaf of an Acacia neurophylla ('Wodjil').
Parallel veins on the leaf of an Acacia neurophylla (‘Wodjil’).
Trailer full of seedlings trays with a yellow seedling bucket
Some of the 7,000+ seedlings on the back of the truck ready to infill patchy areas across the site.
People standing around a white ute with seedlings on the back
The team, including Jamie from PaperCut, getting ready for a big day of planting.
A man wearing a black t-shirt with "PaperCut" written on the front flagged by two women wearing green shirts with "Carbon Positive Australia" on the front. All three are holding a seedling out to the camera.
Jess and Ebony (CPA) with Jamie, a representative from PaperCut who was there to assist with planting. PaperCut are long-time supporters of Carbon Positive Australia.
Three women standing and smiling next to a ute tray full of seedlings.
Ros (Sandalwood Solutions) with Ebony and Gail (CPA) with some of the Acacia acuminata seedlings.
Man standing on the back of a ute tray holding a tray of seedlings
Jamie from PaperCut getting ready to help with the tree planting.
Trays of seedlings on the back of a white truck
Some of the 7,000+ seedlings ready for planting.
Mixed seedlings in a bucket with a pottiputki
Planting bucket full of a biodiverse mix of seedlings ready to be planted.
Woman smiling for a photo standing on yellow soil with a pottiputki
Maddi (CPA) ready to plant some sandalwood seeds.
Woman filling up her planting bucket with seedlings ready for planting from back of a ute.
Lauren (CPA) filling up her bucket with seedlings ready for planting.
Woman holding an Acacia acuminata seedling.
Liv (CPA) holding an Acacia acuminata seedling.
Hand with gardening glove holding sandalwood seeds
Sandalwood seeds ready to be planted.
Woman standing smiling next to a shrub with a bucket full of seedlings.
Jess (CPA) standing next to a well established row of plants.
Sunset over planting rows with pottiputkis
Beautiful sunset to end a day of hand-planting.
Drone image of planting site with rows
Part of the planting area showing excellent establishment.
Drone image of planting site with rows
Well established planting rows.
Women standing behind a tree with a measuring stick.
Liv (CPA) measuring an impressively tall Acacia resinimarginea.
Biodiverse Acacias in the planting area.
Biodiverse Acacias in the planting area.
Revegetation project planting rows.
Planting rows in 2024.
Measuring an Acacia brumalis during the 2024 monitoring assessment.
Acacia brumalis during the 2024 monitoring assessment.
Woman holding measuring stick and standing next to tall tree.
Liv (CPA) standing next to the impressive growth observed during 2025 monitoring.
Aerial view of the trees in planting rows surrounded by remnant bushland.
Aerial view of the trees in planting rows.
Small lizard on sand surrounded by sticks and branches.
Small lizard spotted in the planting area.
Tree and shrubs with measuring stick.
Species diversity observed in the landscape.
Flowering Acacia shrub.
Flowering Acacia resinimarginea.
Lush shrubs in planting rows.
Lush foliage observed in the planting rows.
Bare yellow soil with ripped lines and sparse tree line in the distance
Barren paddock with the front of a car in the bottom left corner
Two men in hats and glasses standing behind a trailer full of seedlings
Two people on either side of a trailer filled with seedling trays
Acacia yorkrakinesis ('Soft Leaf Wodjil') growing in a planting row.
Measuring the height of a juvenile Acacia acuminata ('Jam Wattle').
Acacia neurophylla ('Wodjil') seedling hiding between two Acacia yorkrakinesis ('Soft Leaf Wodjil') shrubs.
Drone image of planting site with rows
Acacia shrub flagged with tape to mark the boundary of a monitoring plot.
Person standing in the distance of a paddock
Great planting row of Acacia shrubs.
Drone photo of yellow, sandy paddock
Parallel veins on the leaf of an Acacia neurophylla ('Wodjil').
Trailer full of seedlings trays with a yellow seedling bucket
People standing around a white ute with seedlings on the back
A man wearing a black t-shirt with "PaperCut" written on the front flagged by two women wearing green shirts with "Carbon Positive Australia" on the front. All three are holding a seedling out to the camera.
Three women standing and smiling next to a ute tray full of seedlings.
Man standing on the back of a ute tray holding a tray of seedlings
Trays of seedlings on the back of a white truck
Mixed seedlings in a bucket with a pottiputki
Woman smiling for a photo standing on yellow soil with a pottiputki
Woman filling up her planting bucket with seedlings ready for planting from back of a ute.
Woman holding an Acacia acuminata seedling.
Hand with gardening glove holding sandalwood seeds
Woman standing smiling next to a shrub with a bucket full of seedlings.
Sunset over planting rows with pottiputkis
Drone image of planting site with rows
Drone image of planting site with rows
Women standing behind a tree with a measuring stick.
Biodiverse Acacias in the planting area.
Revegetation project planting rows.
Measuring an Acacia brumalis during the 2024 monitoring assessment.
Woman holding measuring stick and standing next to tall tree.
Aerial view of the trees in planting rows surrounded by remnant bushland.
Small lizard on sand surrounded by sticks and branches.
Tree and shrubs with measuring stick.
Flowering Acacia shrub.
Lush shrubs in planting rows.