Darling River Eco Corridor 2

Darling River Eco Corridor 2 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on the Mooleyarrah station, approximately 130 kilometers northwest of Bourke in New South Wales. Registered on June 9, 2016, the project covers a significant expanse of 24,637 hectares within the Mulga Lands bioregion. The area is traditionally utilized for grazing, specifically organic cattle and sheep operations, which remains the primary land use alongside the carbon project.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve regenerating native forests by removing suppression activities that previously prevented growth. For this project, the methodology focuses on managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and humanely controlling feral animals, particularly goats, which are a major pest in the region. By installing fencing and controlling grazing pressure, the project allows native vegetation, such as Mulga (Acacia aneura) and native shrubs, to regenerate from in-situ seed sources like rootstock and lignotubers.

The project operates in a semi-arid environment characterized by low and variable rainfall, averaging around 250mm annually. The landscape features flat country with red sandy hills and red earth soils, typical of the Upper Darling and Paroo river catchments. These soils are often fragile, making the maintenance of ground cover essential for preventing erosion.

Property owners Mark and Suzy Pritchard have utilized the carbon revenue to fund significant infrastructure improvements on Mooleyarrah, including new fencing and water points. This investment has allowed them to transition from large, unmanageable paddocks to smaller, rotational grazing cells, improving their ability to manage stock and resting periods for vegetation. The project highlights how carbon farming can support drought resilience by reducing the reliance on high stocking rates for income.