DAC-2015-23

DAC-2015-23 (Project ID: ERF102124) is a native forest regeneration project located on Oratara Station, approximately 80km southwest of Bollon and northwest of Dirranbandi in the Balonne Shire of southern Queensland. Registered in September 2015, the project covers a substantial area of 26,263 hectares within the semi-arid Mulga Lands bioregion, an area traditionally dominated by pastoral grazing operations.

The project operates under the Native Forest from Managed Regrowth (NFMR) methodology. This method is designed for land that was previously cleared for pastoral use but retains the potential to regenerate from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, or lignotubers. Unlike environmental planting projects which involve active tree planting, this project focuses on assisted regeneration. The primary activities involve the cessation of mechanical or chemical clearing and the strategic management of livestock grazing (controlling timing and pressure) to allow native vegetation, likely Mulga (Acacia aneura) and associated woodlands, to recover and reach forest cover status.

The environmental context of the region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 450–500mm. The landscape typically features red earth soils (Kandosols) common to the Mulga belt, often interspersed with cracking clay soils (Vertosols) in lower-lying areas. These soils are naturally low in fertility but support robust native scrub when grazing pressure is managed sustainably.

Originally developed by Devine Agribusiness Carbon (DAC), the project has undergone administrative changes, with the proponent role transferring to Oratara Pastoral Pty Ltd in 2016 and subsequently to Pastoral Partners Australia Trusco Pty Limited in 2023. The "DAC" prefix in the project name reflects its origin with Devine Agribusiness, a portfolio that was acquired by environmental markets investor GreenCollar in 2021, integrating this project into one of Australia's largest carbon farming aggregations.