Stanbert Regeneration Project

The Stanbert Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at the "Stanbert" property, approximately 80km north-east of Bourke in the Western Division of New South Wales. Registered in August 2015, the project covers a substantial area of nearly 23,460 hectares. The region is situated within the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area characterized by a semi-arid climate, red earth soils, and vegetation dominated by Mulga (Acacia aneura) and Poplar Box woodlands.

The project operates under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest-1.1) Methodology Determination 2013. This methodology involves regenerating native forests on land where vegetation growth has been suppressed for at least 10 years, typically by livestock or feral animals. At Stanbert, the project activities focus on managing the timing and extent of grazing and humanely controlling feral animals, likely goats and pigs, which are common pests in the region, to allow in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers to regenerate into permanent forest cover.

The surrounding area is traditionally used for rangeland grazing of sheep and cattle. The Stanbert property itself has historical significance in the region, appearing on early mail routes between Bourke and the Queensland border. By shifting land management practices to prioritize forest regeneration, the proponents, Brian and Leanne Bambrick, aim to sequester carbon while potentially improving the ecological health and biodiversity of the landscape.