Barcheka Regeneration Project

Barcheka Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 20km northwest of Wanaaring in the Far West outback region of New South Wales. It was registered in August 2015 and covers an extensive area of 18,433.44 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests by ceasing activities that suppress tree growth, allowing the forest to eventually reach a minimum of 20% crown cover and 2 meters in height. The project methodology requires that the land was previously cleared of vegetation and that regrowth was actively suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement. In December 2022, the project's method was updated to Compilation No. 3 of the methodology determination.

The Wanaaring region is characterised by its remote, semi-arid outback environment with very low rainfall. The landscape predominantly features red sandy loams and heavy clay soils. The general land use in this arid region is large-scale pastoralism, primarily focusing on extensive sheep and cattle grazing.

The primary project activity at Barcheka involves the humane management of feral animals. By removing these grazing and destructive pressures, the project facilitates assisted regeneration from in-situ native seed sources, including resilient rootstocks and lignotubers.

Interestingly, the project successfully fulfilled a Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC102188) which commenced in November 2015 and is now marked as completed. Furthermore, the Barcheka Regeneration Project has been actively supported by the global real estate services firm CBRE. In their 2021 Corporate Responsibility Report, CBRE highlighted that they purchase and retire carbon offsets from this specific project to help achieve their carbon neutrality goals for their Australian corporate offices while supporting farming landholders to regenerate and protect native vegetation.