Bierbank and Lanherne Regeneration Project

Bierbank and Lanherne Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 90km east of Quilpie in South West Queensland. It was registered in August 2015 and covers an expansive 59,237.90 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve regenerating permanent native forests by altering land management practices on properties where vegetation has previously been suppressed. The standard requirements for these projects involve ceasing activities that hinder regrowth, such as mechanical clearing or overgrazing, to allow the native vegetation to regenerate to a continuous forest cover of at least 2 metres in height and 20% crown cover.

The Quilpie area is situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, which is predominantly used for sheep and cattle grazing operations. The environment is considered semi-arid, experiencing low and variable rainfall. The soils across this region's local land systems are typically characterised by loamy and sandy red earths, often featuring hardpans or silcrete cover.

Project activities for Bierbank and Lanherne include the cessation of mechanical or chemical destruction, or suppression, of regrowth, alongside managing the timing and extent of grazing. Specifically, this project establishes permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources (including rootstock and lignotubers) on land that was previously cleared of vegetation and where regrowth was actively suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project commencing.

Interestingly, the carbon credits generated by the Bierbank and Lanherne Regeneration Project have been highly sought after by various high-profile corporate entities to meet their climate goals. In 2020, the food delivery platform Deliveroo purchased offsets from this project to fund their first 100% carbon-neutral delivery model in Australia. Furthermore, the Kooyong Classic tennis tournament, the regenerative food company Wide Open Agriculture (for their oat milk products), and the brewing company Lion Pty Ltd have all selected this project for their carbon offset commitments. Corporate buyers have praised the project for its biodiversity co-benefits, particularly in providing new habitat for native species, including 6 endangered and 21 vulnerable species known to inhabit the region.