Wapweelah Regeneration Project

Wapweelah Regeneration Project (ERF101517) is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located on Wapweelah Station near Bourke in outback New South Wales. It was registered in August 2015 and covers an expansive 24,806.44 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects aim to establish permanent even-aged native forests by addressing factors that previously suppressed vegetation growth. Standard methodology requirements mandate that the regenerated native vegetation must eventually reach forest cover criteria, typically defined as reaching at least 2 metres in height with a 20% canopy cover. For this specific project, permanent native forests are established through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources (including rootstock and lignotubers) on land that was cleared of vegetation and where regrowth had been suppressed for at least 10 years.

The broader Bourke area features a hot, semi-arid climate characterised by highly variable and relatively low average annual rainfall, historically around 331 mm. The region's environment often consists of hard-setting red soils, claypans, and alluvial floodplains. Regional land use has traditionally been dominated by sheep and cattle grazing, wool production, and some irrigated cropping such as cotton near the Darling River.

To enable the native forest to regenerate successfully, the project proponents implement several land management activities. These primarily include managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, alongside the humane management of feral animals like goats, to significantly reduce grazing pressure on new plant growth.

The project is operated by pastoralist Phillip Hugh Ridge, who also owns the nearby Jandra Station, with the carbon farming contract aggregated with the assistance of climate brokers Climate Friendly Pty Ltd. Interestingly, Wapweelah Station holds a piece of local outback history; in 1878, the notorious Bushranger "Midnight" was mortally wounded by police near Wapweelah. More recently, the carbon project has received some media attention over its regeneration progress. In 2023, financial journalist Alan Kohler highlighted the regulatory risks outback carbon farmers face, noting that Wapweelah's forest cover progress has been challenged by local climatic conditions despite successfully generating over 441,000 ACCUs for the proponents. Furthermore, Clean Energy Regulator records indicate that enforceable undertakings related to the project were accepted from Australian Carbon Traders and Climate Friendly Pty Ltd between 2016 and 2018.