Byzantium Induced Regeneration of Native Forest Project

Byzantium Induced Regeneration of Native Forest Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Maranoa region of Queensland, approximately 80km southwest of Mitchell and 135km southwest of Roma. It was registered in April 2016 and covers a vast project area of 20,410.30 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve restoring native forests by changing land management practices to allow for natural forest growth. Standard requirements stipulate that the area must have been previously cleared and forest regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement. Proponents must undertake specific activities to ensure the forest can eventually reach a minimum canopy cover of 20% and a tree height of at least 2 metres. For this project, activities include ceasing mechanical or chemical destruction of regrowth, altering the timing and extent of livestock grazing, managing non-native weeds, and humanely controlling feral animals.

The Maranoa region is heavily utilized for agricultural operations, primarily sheep and beef cattle grazing, alongside broadacre cropping and timber (Cypress pine) forestry. The environment is characterized by a semi-arid climate with variable, moderate-to-low rainfall typically averaging between 400mm and 600mm annually. Soils in this region are quite diverse, generally featuring texture-contrast soils like Chromosols and Sodosols, as well as Kandosols (sandy or loamy massive earths) and Vertosols (cracking clays) common throughout the surrounding Brigalow belt.

This project establishes permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including resilient rootstock and lignotubers. Beyond its environmental benefits, the project is a significant supplier of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). The proponent, Woolabah Pty Ltd as the Trustee for the J Hanly Family Trust, secured a Fixed Delivery contract (CAC181249) with the Clean Energy Regulator to deliver 265,000 ACCUs. Furthermore, carbon credits generated from this project have been actively purchased and retired by prominent corporate buyers, including AGL Energy, Woodside Energy, and Perennial Partners, to fulfill their corporate ESG goals and Climate Active carbon-neutral commitments.