Mulga South Project

The Mulga South Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Mulga Lands of south-west Queensland, approximately 95 kilometers south of Quilpie and roughly 75 kilometers northeast of Thargomindah. Registered in April 2016, the project covers a significant area of 48,803 hectares. The region is part of the Quilpie Shire and is traditionally dominated by pastoral leaseholds used for grazing sheep and cattle.

This project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, which focuses on regenerating native forests on land where regrowth has been historically suppressed. Unlike environmental planting projects that involve active tree planting, HIR projects rely on managing land use factors, such as reducing grazing pressure from livestock and feral animals, or ceasing mechanical clearing, to allow existing rootstock and seeds to regenerate naturally. In this specific case, the project protects native Mulga (Acacia aneura) vegetation, a species well-adapted to the region's semi-arid climate.

The local environment is characterized by a semi-arid climate with irregular rainfall, typically averaging between 250mm and 350mm annually. The soil composition in this area largely consists of the red earths and lithosols typical of the Mulga Lands bioregion. These soils, while nutrient-poor, support extensive Mulga woodlands which are vital for carbon sequestration and providing habitat for native fauna.

The project has undergone several administrative changes since its inception. It was originally registered as "Climate Friendly Aggregation Project No. 2," indicating it was likely part of a grouped portfolio managed by the service provider Climate Friendly. In 2020, it was renamed the Mulga South Project, and in 2024, the participant structure was updated to remove Corporate Carbon Solutions Pty Ltd, leaving St. John Smith as the primary proponent. The project area was also expanded in 2017, adding more land to the regeneration zone.