Wongalee Mervyndale and Rundalua Forest Regeneration Project

The Wongalee Mervyndale and Rundalua Forest Regeneration Project (ERF101634) is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Mulga Lands of south-west Queensland. Situated approximately 100km south-east of Charleville and north-west of Bollon, the project falls within the Murweh Shire Council area. Registered in August 2015, it covers a significant expanse of 58,602 hectares. This region is traditionally dominated by pastoral leaseholds used for sheep and cattle grazing, a land use that historically involved the suppression of regrowth to maintain open pastures.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects focus on regenerating permanent even-aged native forests by removing specific suppression activities. In this context, the project proponents, Hugh and Marcia Cameron, working with Climate Friendly Pty Ltd, have ceased mechanical or chemical clearing and managed grazing pressure. This allows the native vegetation, predominantly Mulga (Acacia aneura) and associated species like Poplar Box, to regenerate from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. To qualify, the land must have been free of forest cover for at least 10 years prior to the project, with the aim of achieving forest cover (20% crown cover and 2 meters height) over time.

The project area lies within a semi-arid climatic zone, typically receiving between 400mm and 450mm of rainfall annually, though this is highly variable. The landscape is characterized by red earth soils, often classified as Kandosols, which are well-drained but low in fertility. These soils support the hardy, drought-resistant vegetation typical of the Mulga Lands bioregion. Unlike the "Wongalee" station near Hughenden which is associated with wind farm developments, this property remains focused on carbon farming and pastoralism.