Wambin Carbon Project

Wambin Carbon Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located at Wambin Station, approximately 110km south-west of Quilpie in the Mulga Lands bioregion of south-western Queensland. It was registered in September 2015 and covers an extensive 65,392.24 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve modifying agricultural land management practices to allow native forests to regenerate from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers on land where regrowth has been suppressed for at least 10 years. For this project, standard requirements include the careful management of the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as the humane control of feral animals, enabling the native vegetation to eventually reach the required forest cover.

The Quilpie area and the broader Mulga Lands are traditionally known for extensive pastoral operations, primarily the grazing of Merino sheep, cattle, and increasingly, rangeland goats. The region experiences a semi-arid climate with highly variable, summer-dominant rainfall averaging around 300-350mm annually. The landscape is characterised by flat to undulating plains featuring low-fertility sandy red earths and loamy red earths, which predominantly support hardy Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands.

An interesting historical aspect of the region is its deep connection to Australia's ancient and pastoral history. Properties in this district, including Wambin, have often been held by pioneering families for multiple generations dating back to the early 20th century. Additionally, the surrounding land between Quilpie and Eulo is a renowned paleontological hotspot, holding the fossilised remains of giant megafauna, such as the two-tonne Diprotodon, that roamed the area tens of thousands of years ago when the climate supported more luxurious vegetation. By participating in carbon farming, the present-day landholders are finding new economic resilience while restoring the native Mulga scrub ecosystems.