Brindingabba Human-Induced Regeneration Project

The Brindingabba Human-Induced Regeneration Project is a large-scale regeneration project located approximately 175 kilometers northwest of Bourke and 75 kilometers southeast of Hungerford in northwestern New South Wales. Originally established on the pastoral property "Brindingabba Station," the project area was acquired by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in 2022 to create the Brindingabba National Park. Registered in June 2015, the project covers a massive 33,464 hectares within the Mulga Lands bioregion.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects in this context focus on restoring native forest cover by ceasing suppression activities, primarily grazing. By managing the timing and extent of grazing and actively controlling feral animals (particularly goats and pigs), the project allows existing rootstock and seeds in the soil to regenerate into permanent forest. In the semi-arid Mulga Lands, this vegetation typically consists of Mulga (Acacia aneura), Gidgee, and Box woodlands.

The environmental conditions of the region are characterized by a semi-arid climate with irregular rainfall, supporting a landscape of red earth, stony rises, and significant clay pans. A key feature of the project area is its hydrological importance; it sits within the Cuttaburra Basin and includes parts of the nationally significant Yantabulla Swamp and Lake Wombah. These wetlands act as vital refuges for waterbirds and threatened species like the Kultarr and Grey-crowned Babbler.

A notable aspect of this project is its transition from a private pastoral carbon initiative to a government-managed conservation asset. The acquisition was facilitated by a partnership between the NSW Government and The Nature Conservancy, aiming to secure a "carbon positive" status for the NSW National Parks estate by 2028. Consequently, the carbon credits (ACCUs) generated here are now primarily used to offset the operational emissions of the NPWS rather than being sold on the open market.