'Morton Plains Human-Induced Regeneration Project

Morton Plains Human-Induced Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 115km north of Bourke in the Mulga Lands bioregion of New South Wales. It was registered in July 2015 and covers an expansive 22,618.71 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. Standard requirements for this methodology dictate that the land must have been previously cleared of vegetation, with regrowth actively suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement. To achieve native forest regeneration, this project relies on specific land management activities, including managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, controlling feral animal populations (such as goats) in a humane manner, and completing fencing upgrades.

The Bourke region and surrounding Mulga Lands are classified as a semi-arid environment, historically known for large-scale pastoral grazing operations. The environmental profile of the Morton Plains property is diverse, transitioning from flat red country in the south to hilly terrain in the north. The area features a network of creek systems leading into black soil flood plains and red sandy loam soils. Field surveys indicate the dominant native species regenerating on the property include Eucalyptus largiflorens (Black Box), Acacia harpophylla (Brigalow), Acacia cambagei (Gidgee), and various Eremophila species.

This project was established to go beyond simple carbon sequestration by providing significant environmental co-benefits. The active regeneration of natural woodlands helps reverse historical land degradation caused by overgrazing, which in turn stabilizes the local soils and drastically reduces erosion. Furthermore, the Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated by this project have been utilized by organizations such as the Surf Coast Shire Council to offset their corporate greenhouse gas emissions under the Climate Active certification program.