Tarko Regeneration Project

The Tarko Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on Tarko station, approximately 105 kilometers west of Cunnamulla in South West Queensland. Registered in August 2015, the project covers a significant area of 13,638 hectares within the Paroo Shire. The property is situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area historically dominated by pastoral leases used for sheep and cattle grazing.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects in this context involve regenerating native forest on land where vegetation has been suppressed for at least ten years, typically by livestock grazing or mechanical clearing. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the proponents, Fay Mary Cooney and Grant Patrick Cooney, must implement management changes that facilitate the regrowth of native species. On Tarko Station, these activities include managing the timing and extent of grazing to allow vegetation to recover and actively controlling feral animals, such as wild dogs and goats, which are common pests in the Shire that damage young rootstock.

The environment in this region is classified as semi-arid, characterized by low and variable rainfall. The soils are predominantly red earths and sandy loams, which support the growth of Mulga (Acacia aneura) and other native shrubs like Budda and Turpentine. Historical records indicate the property has access to artesian water, with bores and springs noted in the area since the early 20th century. The project is facilitated by carbon service provider Climate Friendly.