Tambua Regeneration Project

Tambua Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Tambua Station, approximately 50km west of Cobar in western New South Wales. Registered in August 2015, the project spans a vast area of 57,460.55 hectares.

Under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, projects aim to establish permanent, even-aged native forests by encouraging natural regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. Standard requirements state that suppressive land management practices must be stopped on land that was previously cleared of vegetation and where regrowth was suppressed for at least 10 years. For this specific project, the primary method of assisting regeneration is the humane management of feral animals, allowing the native vegetation to recover and eventually reach standard forest canopy thresholds of at least 20% cover and 2 metres in height.

The Cobar region features a semi-arid climate with low annual average rainfall, typically around 350 to 400mm. The landscape is characterised by hard red soils, sandy loams, and gravelly rises. The area has a long history of agricultural use, primarily revolving around grazing, and is particularly known for producing fine quality wool and cattle products.

Tambua Station boasts a rich agricultural history, having been owned by the Evans family since 1914. The family recently celebrated over 100 years and five generations of living and working on the land, overcoming historical challenges like financial hardship, droughts, and bushfires. The property is highly regarded for its wool quality, with project proponent Paul Evans winning multiple champion fleece awards at the local Cobar Show. In early 2022, the project underwent a variation to update its methodology to compilation No. 3 of the HIR determination.