Paroo River Ecosystem Restoration Project

Paroo River Ecosystem Restoration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 40km northeast of the remote outback settlement of Wanaaring in north-western New South Wales. It was registered in June 2016 and covers an area of 25,202.62 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve regenerating permanent native forests by identifying and ceasing activities that have historically suppressed natural tree growth, allowing native vegetation to recover and reach standard forest cover characteristics. This project specifically establishes permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources (including rootstock and lignotubers) on land that was cleared of vegetation and where regrowth was suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project commencing. The primary project activities involve actively managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as managing feral animals in a humane manner to protect new shoots.

The Wanaaring region, situated within the Mulga Lands bioregion, has traditionally been utilised for extensive sheep and cattle grazing on pastoral leases. The local environment is classified as arid to semi-arid, characterised by low and unpredictable rainfall. The regional soil profile is diverse, featuring a mix of red earth soils, sandy plains, and heavy claypans typically found on the floodplains.

Managed by Terra Carbon Pty Limited, a subsidiary of the GreenCollar Group, the project has demonstrated significant biodiversity improvements since the reduction of grazing pressures. It has successfully encouraged the regeneration of native flora such as mulga, bloodwood, ironwood, punty bush, and hop bush. Local landholders, notably the Leigo family, have reported the exciting return of native wildlife to the area, including hopping mice, boobook owls, and tawny frogmouths. The environmental and carbon outcomes of the project have also attracted major corporate investment, with Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated from the site being purchased and retired by companies like Westpac and Ampol to offset their corporate emissions.