Galambo Regeneration Project

The Galambo Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 65km south of Bourke in Western New South Wales. Registered in January 2015, the project covers a substantial area of 6,990 hectares within the Bourke Shire Council local government area. The project is situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area historically utilized for extensive rangeland grazing of sheep, cattle, and goats.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects focus on restoring native forest cover on land where vegetation regrowth has been suppressed for at least 10 years, usually due to agricultural activities. Unlike environmental planting, HIR does not involve planting seedlings. Instead, the method relies on "assisted regeneration" from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. To achieve this, the project proponent must actively manage "suppressors", in this case, by controlling the timing and extent of livestock grazing and managing feral animals to allow the native vegetation to recover.

The environment in this region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with low and variable rainfall, typically averaging between 300mm and 350mm annually. The soils in the vicinity of the project are predominantly red earths (Kandosols) and sandy loams, which are typical of the Cobar Peneplain and Mulga country. These soils support native vegetation such as Mulga (Acacia aneura), Bimble Box, and various native grasses, provided grazing pressure is sufficiently reduced to allow for establishment.

An interesting aspect of this project is its longevity; having been registered in 2015, it is a mature project within the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme. The project is operated by proponent Lindsay John Bottom with the assistance of carbon service provider Climate Friendly. In August 2023, the project underwent a variation to update its methodology to the latest compilation (No. 3) of the 2013 Determination, ensuring it remains aligned with current regulatory standards for calculating carbon abatement.