Lynwood Human-Induced Regeneration Project

The Lynwood Human-Induced Regeneration Project is a large-scale carbon farming initiative located on Lynwood Station near the locality of Cubba, approximately 95 kilometers northwest of Cobar in New South Wales. Registered in June 2015, the project covers a significant area of 46,663 hectares within the Shire of Cobar. The region is characterized by its semi-arid climate and distinctive red loam and red earth soils, which typically support grazing activities for sheep, cattle, and harvested goats.

This project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology. The core objective is to facilitate the regeneration of permanent even-aged native forests, such as Mulga, Box, and Pine species, on land where vegetation was previously suppressed. Unlike environmental planting, HIR does not involve active tree planting. Instead, it relies on land management changes, specifically the management of grazing timing and extent, as well as the humane control of feral animals (likely goats and pigs). By reducing these pressures, the project allows existing rootstock and lignotubers to regenerate into forest cover.

An interesting aspect of this project is its proponent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited, which is a trading entity often associated with GreenCollar, a major environmental markets developer. The project has gained visibility through corporate partnerships; for instance, the City of Adelaide has purchased Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) from this specific project to offset its operational emissions. Additionally, the landholders, Robin and Keryl Thorpe, have reportedly used the revenue from this and a parallel Avoided Deforestation project on the property to upgrade farm infrastructure, such as dams and firebreaks, thereby improving the drought resilience of their grazing enterprise.