Inkerman Downs Regeneration Project

Inkerman Downs Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located near the locality of Yantabulla, approximately 120km northwest of Bourke in the Far West region of New South Wales. The project was registered in April 2015 and covers a substantial area of 17,053 hectares.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, which credits landholders for regenerating permanent native forests on land where vegetation was previously suppressed. Unlike environmental planting, HIR relies on the germination of in-situ seed sources (such as rootstock and lignotubers) rather than planting new seedlings. To meet standard requirements, the land must have been suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project, and the regeneration is achieved by managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as controlling feral animals like goats that destroy young regrowth.

The Inkerman Downs station is situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area historically dominated by pastoral grazing of sheep and cattle. The environment is semi-arid, characterized by low, irregular rainfall and hot summers. The terrain typically consists of red earth and sandy loam soils which support vegetation such as Mulga (Acacia aneura), Bimble Box, and various species of saltbush and native grasses.

An interesting historical note is that Inkerman Downs has been a significant pastoral holding in the "Back O' Bourke" region for over a century, with records of the station dating back to the early 20th century. The project is managed with the assistance of Select Carbon (now a subsidiary of Shell), a major aggregator in the Australian carbon market. The project area serves as a prime example of how traditional grazing properties in western NSW are diversifying into carbon farming to restore landscape health while maintaining productivity.