Boodgherree Regeneration Project

Boodgherree Regeneration Project is a human-induced regeneration project located approximately 85km southeast of Thargomindah in South West Queensland. It was registered in September 2015 and covers an area of 39,298.37 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest projects involve establishing permanent native forests through assisted regeneration on land that was previously cleared of vegetation, and where regrowth has been suppressed for at least 10 years. Standard requirements for this methodology dictate that regeneration must stem from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers, by ceasing suppressive activities. For this specific project, this goal is achieved by actively managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing.

The Thargomindah area is situated within the semi-arid Mulga Lands and Channel Country of Queensland. The region is characterised by a low-rainfall, arid climate with an annual average rainfall of around 300mm. The local environment features soils that predominantly consist of deep red earthy sands, red siliceous sands on dunes, and clay pans in low-lying areas. The general land use in this outback region is overwhelmingly pastoral, dedicated to large-scale sheep and cattle grazing on native vegetation.

The Boodgherree property is part of a wider commercial cattle grazing enterprise that relies entirely on sub-artesian water from the Great Artesian Basin for the survival of its livestock. Notably, the property's directors made a formal submission to an Australian Senate Inquiry, strongly objecting to a proposal by a Glencore subsidiary to trial pumping waste liquid carbon dioxide into the Great Artesian Basin. They cited the catastrophic risk of heavy metal contamination to their cattle and surrounding rural communities. Furthermore, Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated by the Boodgherree Regeneration Project have been publicly disclosed as being purchased and retired by major corporations, including Woodside Energy, to offset their corporate greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2022, the proponent and participant name for the project was officially varied from Geoff Barton to BOODGHERREE PTY LTD.