The Forest

The Ruatapu site is located off the statehighway on Falls Creek Road, in the West Coast of the South Island. The majority of the project site is historic glacial terminal moraine, and the site area is 286.7 ha. Multiple planting operations are being undertaken at the Ruatapu site with a mix of both natives and exotic areas, where any exotic area will be transitioned into native forest using continuous cover forestry.

The site consists of the following forest, alder planting (105.6 ha), native planting (21.7 ha), native regeneration (51.1 ha), native seeding with ~30 million native seeds (73.4 ha) and a small area of existing redwoods (4 ha).

Towering trees with lush green foliage stretch toward a bright blue sky in Ruatapu, West Coast.

Young plant with green leaves growing in dry soil, surrounded by sparse grass and weeds.

Close-up of small green plants with reddish stems growing in soil, with a white rectangular object leaning against the ground in the background.

Close-up of a green shrub growing among dry and green grass in a field near a riverbank in New Zealand.

The People

The landowner is Meridian Energy and its Forever Forest Programme.

Mark standing in a grassy field holding a small, young redwood tree. He is dressed in outdoor clothing with a beanie hat, smiling, with hills and cloudy sky in the background.

Two people in outdoor jackets and hats standing in a grassy field with mountains in the background, one person pointing at the scenery.

The Location

The Ruatapu Project is located on Falls Creek Road, Ruatapu, West Coast.

Map of New Zealand with a yellow dot indicating a project location in the northern part of the North Island.

Map showing a coastal area with a marked project location near the shoreline, with mountainous terrain and snow-capped peaks nearby.

Technical Stuff

The Ruatapu Forest Carbon Project is being undertaken under the Permanent Forest Category of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme. The project issues New Zealand Units (NZUs) based on New Zealand Government rules for carbon sequestration rates by indigenous forest.

Ruatapu Forest Carbon Project

Project Name

286.7 ha

Project Area

Meridian Energy

Project Owner

Meridian Energy + Ekos

Project Developer

West Coast, New Zealand

Project Location

Continuation of pastorlaism (sheep/beef grazing)

Baseline Scenario

Permanent forest protection

Project Scenario

Afforestation/reforestation (A/R): Enhanced natural regeneration

Activity Type

Carbon sequestration; biodiversity conservation; water quality protection; climate resilience

Project Benefits

822,744

Trees Planted

New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme - Permanent Forest Category

Carbon Credit Standard

Ministry for Primary Industries

Verifier

New Zealand Emissions Trading Register

Carbon Credit Registry

Project Purpose

Meridian Energy Limited are planting trees throughout Aotearoa to reduce their carbon impact. The plan is to have 1.5 million seedlings in the ground over the next 5 years so that they are able to offset their operational emissions by half by 2030.

Learn more here!

Dense forest with tall thin trees and green foliage.