Lakemere Human-Induced Regeneration Project

Lakemere Human-Induced Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Lakemere Station, approximately 100km west of Bourke in New South Wales. Registered in July 2015, the project covers a significant area of 18,962 hectares within the Mulga Lands bioregion.

The project operates on a working pastoral property historically used for grazing sheep, cattle, and goats. The surrounding region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with rainfall averaging around 350mm annually. The landscape features red earth soils, stony ridges, and low-lying country, supporting native vegetation such as Mulga (Acacia aneura), Turpentine (Eremophila sturtii), and Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa).

Human-Induced Regeneration projects generate carbon credits by regenerating native forest on land where regrowth was previously suppressed for at least 10 years, typically by livestock or feral animals. At Lakemere, the proponents manage the timing and extent of grazing and control feral animals to allow the native vegetation to recover and reach forest maturity.

An interesting aspect of this project is its integration with the station's commercial operations. Managed by landholders Jim and Annabel Strachan in partnership with Terra Carbon (a GreenCollar company), the carbon revenue has enabled significant investment in infrastructure, such as new fencing and water points. This allows for better rotational grazing, ensuring that carbon sequestration and wool/meat production can coexist sustainably.