Wapweelah Regeneration Project

Wapweelah Regeneration Project is a human-induced regeneration project located at Wapweelah Station, approximately 150km northwest of Bourke and 60km west of Enngonia in New South Wales. It was registered in August 2015 and covers an area of 24,806.44 ha.

Human-induced regeneration (HIR) projects involve regenerating native forests on land where vegetation has been suppressed for at least 10 years. By implementing new land management practices, such as controlling the timing and extent of livestock grazing and humanely managing feral animals, the proponent allows native seedlings, rootstock, and lignotubers to regenerate. The standard requirement for these carbon estimation areas is that the regenerating vegetation must have the potential to achieve true forest cover, defined as a minimum of 20% canopy cover and 2 metres in height.

The region surrounding Bourke and Enngonia is predominantly used for pastoral activities, specifically broadacre sheep and cattle grazing. The environment is classified as semi-arid with a low annual rainfall averaging around 350mm to 400mm. Soils across this area typically consist of red soils and sandy loams, with occasional heavier clays in the floodplains.

Wapweelah Station, operated by project proponent Phillip Ridge, has a colourful history, including being the location where the notorious 19th-century bushranger "Captain Midnight" was fatally wounded in 1878. More recently, the carbon project itself has been the subject of financial media scrutiny; commentators have cited it as an example of a "high risk" integrity carbon farm because, despite the project generating over 440,000 ACCUs, satellite tracker tools suggest its tree canopy cover has remained relatively static since registration.