Paroowidgee Regeneration Project

Paroowidgee Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in Far West New South Wales, approximately 40km west of the remote village of Wanaaring and 220km west of the major regional centre of Bourke. The project was registered in September 2015 and spans an area of 15,325.22 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects aim to establish permanent native forests by changing land management practices that previously suppressed tree growth. Under this methodology's standard requirements, the land must have been cleared of native vegetation and regrowth must have been suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project commencing. The objective is to allow the native vegetation to naturally regenerate and eventually achieve a minimum forest canopy cover of 20% and a tree height of 2 metres.

The region surrounding Wanaaring and the Paroo River is known for its extensive pastoral land use, primarily focused on sheep and cattle grazing on large outback stations. The environment is classified as a semi-arid zone, characterised by low and irregular annual rainfall. The soils in this part of Far West New South Wales typically consist of red earths, sandy loams, and scattered claypans.

Project activities at Paroowidgee focus on managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, alongside the humane management of feral animals. These activities are designed to facilitate the assisted regeneration of permanent native forest from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers. The project is operated by proponents Debra Ann Leigo and Neill Robert Leigo, with major carbon service provider Climate Friendly Pty Ltd participating as an agent. The project area underwent a boundary variation in November 2018 to remove some previously listed areas, and its methodology was formally updated to Compilation No. 3 in September 2023. Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated by this project have been purchased and retired by several major entities to offset their emissions, including global IT firm Cognizant, investment management firm AllianceBernstein, and for the Barangaroo Precinct's Climate Active carbon neutral certification in Sydney.