Poon Boon Regeneration Project

The Poon Boon Regeneration Project is a human-induced regeneration (HIR) project located on "Poon Boon" station, approximately 45km north-north-west of Cobar in western New South Wales. Registered in August 2015, the project covers a substantial area of 11,798 hectares within the Cobar Peneplain bioregion. This region is historically associated with pastoral grazing, specifically sheep and cattle, which remains the primary land use in the surrounding area alongside mining operations such as the nearby Endeavor (Elura) Mine.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology. This method credits landholders for regenerating native forests by suppressing activities that previously prevented growth, such as uncontrolled grazing or land clearing. In the case of Poon Boon, the project explicitly focuses on the humane management of feral animals (likely goats, which are prevalent in the Cobar shire) to reduce grazing pressure. By removing these suppressors, existing rootstock and seeds in the soil, known as the seed bank, are allowed to regenerate into a permanent even-aged native forest.

Environmentally, the site sits within a semi-arid zone characterized by low and variable rainfall. The landscape typically features "hard red" soils, including residual loams and lithosols, which support vegetation communities dominated by Mulga (Acacia aneura), Bimble Box, and White Cypress Pine. The resilience of these native species allows them to recover once the pressure from feral grazing is alleviated.

An interesting facet of this project is its contribution to urban sustainability; Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated by Poon Boon have been retired to help offset the carbon footprint of the Barangaroo precinct in Sydney, contributing to its carbon-neutral certification. Additionally, the property has historical significance as the childhood home of Dr. Geoff Chapman, a notable dual-career Wallaby and racehorse trainer, whose family managed the station in the 1940s.