Inkerman Downs Regeneration Project

Inkerman Downs Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Yantabulla in the Bourke Shire, approximately 120km north-west of Bourke in north-western New South Wales. It was registered on April 7, 2015, and covers an extensive area of 17,053.66 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. A standard requirement for this methodology is that the land must have been previously cleared of vegetation, with regrowth actively suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement. To achieve this regeneration, the project activities at Inkerman Downs include the cessation of mechanical or chemical destruction of regrowth, the careful management of the timing and extent of livestock grazing, and the humane management of feral animals.

The Yantabulla and wider Bourke region is situated within the Mulga Lands Bioregion, an area traditionally known for pastoral land use, specifically sheep and cattle grazing. The environment features a semi-arid climate with a highly variable average annual rainfall of around 300mm. The soil types across the region are diverse, consisting predominantly of red sandy and sandy loam soils, interspersed with stony ridges, ironstone gravel flats, and softer loamy clays in the floodplain and creek systems.

An interesting fact about this area is its proximity to the Cuttaburra Channels and the Yantabulla Swamp, which form part of the Paroo and Warrego river systems. Despite the dry climate, these ephemeral wetlands experience "boom and bust" ecological cycles and serve as nationally significant breeding grounds for thousands of waterbirds during flood events. Additionally, the carbon project is managed with the assistance of carbon developer Select Carbon Pty Ltd, and underwent a participant variation in December 2021, shifting from Karen and Anthony Bailey to Karen Bailey as the sole proponent.