Richmond Regeneration Project

The Richmond Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 30 kilometers south of Bourke in north-western New South Wales. Registered in September 2015, the project covers a massive area of 3,413 hectares. The project operates on the property "Richmond," situated within the Bourke Shire Council local government area. The region is predominantly characterized by rangeland grazing, which has historically suppressed native vegetation growth through livestock pressure and mechanical clearing.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects focus on restoring native forests by ceasing the activities that prevent regrowth. Unlike environmental planting, this methodology relies on existing seed sources within the soil, such as rootstock and lignotubers, to regenerate the forest naturally. For the Richmond Regeneration Project, specific activities include managing the timing and extent of grazing, humanely controlling feral animals (such as goats, which are prevalent in the area), and stopping any mechanical destruction of regrowth. The goal is to establish a permanent, even-aged native forest that sequesters carbon over a 100-year permanence period.

The environment in the Bourke region is classified as semi-arid, with an average annual rainfall of approximately 370mm. The landscape is typical of the Western Division of NSW, often featuring red earth soils and texture-contrast soils (Chromosols), which support vegetation types such as Mulga, Bimble Box, and Coolabah. These soil types are generally fertile but fragile, making the management of ground cover critical for preventing erosion and maintaining soil health.

Managed by Kassiotis Investments Pty Ltd, with Select Carbon Pty Ltd acting as the agent, the project has been actively delivering carbon abatement. It holds a Carbon Abatement Contract with the Australian Government, originally securing the sale of over 90,000 tonnes of abatement. As of the latest available data, the project has successfully delivered a significant portion of its contracted volume. A notable administrative change occurred in 2022 when the participant registration was varied from John William Thatcher to Kassiotis Investments, likely reflecting a change in ownership or project structuring.