DAC-2015-14

DAC-2015-14 is a Native Forest from Managed Regrowth (NFMR) project located in the Mulga Lands bioregion of Queensland, approximately 80km southeast of Charleville and 60km southwest of Morven. Registered in September 2015, the project covers a significant area of 5,607 hectares within the Maranoa local government area. The surrounding region is predominantly used for grazing (sheep and cattle) and is defined by its vast tracts of Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands.

The project operates under the Native Forest from Managed Regrowth methodology. Unlike the more common Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) method, NFMR specifically targets land that has previously undergone at least one comprehensive clearing event for pastoral use. The project activity involves ceasing mechanical or chemical clearing to allow the native forest to regenerate from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. This regeneration increases the carbon stock on the land, generating Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Environmentally, the site is situated in a semi-arid zone with highly variable, summer-dominant rainfall (typically 300mm–500mm annually). The soils in this part of the Mulga Lands are characteristically deep red earths and kandosols, which support the regeneration of Mulga and Poplar Box woodlands when grazing pressure is managed and clearing is halted.

An interesting note on this project is its proponent history. Devine Agribusiness Carbon (DAC) was founded by local grazier Dominic Devine and developed a large portfolio of over 30 projects in Southwest Queensland, including this one. In July 2021, Devine Agribusiness Carbon was acquired by GreenCollar, Australia’s largest environmental markets investor, integrating these projects into their wider portfolio. DAC-2015-14 holds a carbon abatement contract with the Australian Government and has successfully delivered over 56,000 ACCUs.