DAC-2015-08

DAC-2015-08 is a Native Forest from Managed Regrowth project located in the Balonne Shire of South West Queensland, roughly 70km south of Bollon and 95km west of Dirranbandi. It was registered in September 2015 and covers an area of 10,984.05 hectares.

Native forest from managed regrowth projects involve establishing permanent native forests by allowing native vegetation to naturally regenerate on land previously subjected to comprehensive clearing for pastoral use. Standard requirements for this methodology include ceasing activities that suppress regrowth, such as the mechanical or chemical destruction of vegetation, and carefully managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing to allow the forest cover to reach maturity.

The Balonne Shire area is predominantly a rural region known for sheep and cattle grazing, as well as broadacre cropping like cotton and wheat where conditions permit. The region experiences a semi-arid climate characterised by low, variable rainfall, and the soils typically consist of red-brown earths, clays, and sandy loams suited for pastoral agriculture.

This project was established to regenerate permanent native forests from in-situ seed sources like rootstock and lignotubers. In late 2023, the project participants were varied, transferring control from Devine Agribusiness Carbon to Pastoral Partners Australia, an organisation focused on integrating rotational grazing practices with carbon sequestration to improve biodiversity alongside agricultural productivity. The project is also linked to an active Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC102411) with the Clean Energy Regulator, which originally committed 332,900 tonnes of carbon abatement for delivery to the Commonwealth.