Yarrawonga Cobar Regeneration Project

Yarrawonga Cobar Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 18km southwest of Cobar in New South Wales. It was registered on September 7, 2015, and covers an area of 9,978.19 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve establishing permanent native forests by encouraging the natural regrowth of native vegetation from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. To meet standard methodology requirements, proponents must demonstrate the land was previously cleared with regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project commencing. They must also implement new land management practices, such as ceasing vegetation clearing or managing livestock and feral animals, allowing the forest to regenerate to at least 20% canopy cover and a minimum height of 2 metres. For this specific project, activities include the cessation of mechanical and chemical suppression of regrowth and the humane management of feral animals.

The Cobar region is characterised by a semi-arid climate with low, variable rainfall and high evaporation. The local environment typically features red silty loams, red Chromosols, and hard red earth soil types. Land use in this area is predominantly pastoral agriculture, particularly extensive sheep grazing, alongside historically significant and active mining operations.

An interesting note about this project is its origin story during a severe drought. The proponent, David Snelson, is a seventh-generation sheep grazier who adopted carbon farming on his 10,000-hectare property, Yarrawonga, to earn offset revenue. By reducing his sheep flock from roughly 4,000 to 3,000 and dedicating half of his farm to native tree regeneration, the project helped keep the farm in family ownership. Additionally, the project is backed by an active Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC102278) with the Australian Government for the fixed delivery of carbon abatement, and the project methodology was varied to Compilation 3 in July 2023.