Turra Forest Regeneration Project

Turra Forest Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located at Turra Station, approximately 130km northwest of Bourke in Far West NSW. It was registered in March 2016 and covers 17,626.91ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests by changing land management practices to allow native vegetation to regenerate. This method relies on assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers, on land that was previously cleared and where regrowth has been suppressed for at least 10 years. To achieve native forest standards, the project removes suppressors by managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as humanely managing feral animals.

The Bourke area is well known for livestock grazing, predominantly running sheep and cattle. The region is semi-arid, experiencing low average annual rainfall of around 300mm. The local environment features Cuttaburra Creek flood-out country rising to ironstone ridges, with soils that generally support native timbers like Napunyah, Box, Mulga, Beefwood, and Gidgea.

In May 2020, the project participants changed from Howard and Margaret Williams to Richard and Deborah Nielsen, which aligned with the real estate sale of Turra Station. The project is supported by Climate Friendly Pty Ltd and has supplied carbon credits to corporate buyers, including the brewing company Lion, commercial real estate firm CBRE, and Destination NSW, for their emissions offset targets.