Morton Plains Human-Induced Regeneration Project

Morton Plains Human-Induced Regeneration Project is a large-scale forest regeneration initiative located approximately 50km northeast of the locality of Enngonia and about 140km north of the major service centre of Bourke, in New South Wales. Registered in July 2015, the project covers a substantial area of 22,618 hectares. The property is situated within the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area traditionally defined by rangeland grazing operations for sheep, cattle, and goats.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, which credits carbon stored by allowing native forests to regrow on land where vegetation was previously suppressed. To achieve this, the project activities involve managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and actively controlling feral animal populations. These changes reduce the pressure on vegetation, allowing in-situ seed sources and rootstock to regenerate into permanent forest cover.

The local environment is semi-arid, characterized by hot summers and a low, variable rainfall averaging between 300mm and 350mm annually. The landscape features a mix of flat red country with red sandy loam soils, hilly terrain, and networks of creek systems that lead to black soil floodplains.

Managed by Terra Carbon (a member of the GreenCollar group), the project focuses on regenerating native woodland and shrubland species. Dominant vegetation identified on the property includes Mulga (Acacia aneura), Gidgee (Acacia cambagei), and Turpentine (Eremophila sturtii). Beyond carbon sequestration, the project aims to reverse land degradation caused by historical overgrazing and stabilize soils to reduce erosion.