Joonderee and Elmina Regeneration Project

Joonderee and Elmina Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 55km east of Wyandra and 95km south-east of Charleville in South West Queensland. It was registered in August 2015 and spans an extensive area of 21,093.67 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve the establishment of permanent native forests by changing land management practices to encourage natural regrowth from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. Project activities typically include managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and ceasing the mechanical or chemical destruction of native vegetation. These changes allow suppressed vegetation to regenerate and eventually reach standard forest cover requirements, which generally dictate a minimum tree height of 2 metres and at least 20% crown cover.

The surrounding South West Queensland region is predominantly used for sheep and cattle grazing. The environment features a semi-arid climate, experiencing highly variable rainfall that averages around 370mm annually. The soils across this region commonly consist of red and yellow massive earths (Kandosols) typical of the Mulga lands, alongside cracking clays (Vertosols) on the flood plains.

This specific project is focused on establishing permanent native forests on land that had previously been cleared of vegetation and where regrowth was actively suppressed for at least 10 years before the project's commencement. Since its registration, the project has undergone multiple structural variations, including a reduction in the overall project area in November 2016, and an update to the methodology determination (Compilation No. 3) in September 2023. Additionally, the Joonderee and Elmina Regeneration Project was notably included in a 2024 academic study analyzing woody cover fraction and regulatory compliance among Australian HIR projects.