Maureenjoy Human-Induced Regeneration Project

Maureenjoy Human-Induced Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 135km northwest of Bourke in the outback region of New South Wales. It was registered in July 2015 and spans an area of 16,360.43 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve changing land management practices to allow native forests to regenerate on land where regrowth has been previously suppressed. Standard requirements stipulate that the land must have been cleared of vegetation and suppressed for at least 10 years prior to commencement, with the goal of establishing a permanent even-aged native forest reaching a minimum of 20% crown cover.

The Bourke region is characterised by a semi-arid climate with low rainfall, typically averaging around 300mm to 350mm annually. The landscape is naturally dominated by red earths and sandy loam soils. Historically, the area is well-known for its extensive pastoral operations, being heavily utilised for sheep and cattle grazing.

This project aims to establish permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, specifically focusing on existing rootstock and lignotubers. To achieve this, the project undertakes activities such as strictly managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and the humane management of feral animals. An interesting note regarding the project's proponent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited, is that the global investment firm KKR & Co. Inc. agreed to acquire a 49.9% stake in the company for $100 million in 2020. Additionally, this specific project (ERF101380) was referenced in an academic study analysing the sizing of vegetation recovery comparison areas across Australian HIR carbon sequestration projects.