Rockwell Regeneration Project

Rockwell Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Paroo Shire of South West Queensland, south of the outback town of Cunnamulla. It was registered in July 2015 and covers a vast area of 49,198.89 ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent native forests by ceasing activities that actively suppress regrowth. Under this standard methodology, landholders must stop the mechanical or chemical destruction of vegetation, manage the timing and extent of livestock grazing, and humanely control feral animals. The Rockwell Regeneration Project relies specifically on assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers, on land where regrowth was previously suppressed for at least 10 years before the project began.

The Paroo Shire and Cunnamulla region are characterised by a hot semi-arid climate with very low annual rainfall, typically averaging between 300mm and 400mm. The local environment consists mostly of flat, open plains featuring red soils with lower fertility typical of the Mulga Lands. Land use in this remote region is predominantly dedicated to extensive agricultural grazing, focusing heavily on sheep for wool and meat, as well as beef cattle production on native pastures.

Interestingly, the Rockwell Regeneration Project was initially registered with participants Michael Fisher and Michaela Fisher before transitioning entirely to Kilberoo Pty Ltd in 2018. It is a major carbon initiative, holding a Carbon Abatement Contract with the Clean Energy Regulator for the fixed delivery of 2,500,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). Additionally, the project was recently referenced in a 2024 academic study analysing national-scale datasets, which debated the true extent of vegetation recovery and the validity of comparison areas in several large-scale Australian HIR carbon sequestration projects.