Moruya Station Carbon Project

Moruya Station Carbon Project is a Native Forest from Managed Regrowth (NFMR) project located in the Paroo Shire of southwest Queensland. The project area spans 10,248 hectares and is situated approximately 90km south-southeast of Charleville and 100km northeast of Cunnamulla. Registered in April 2016, the project operates on land historically utilized for pastoral grazing, specifically within the Mulga Lands bioregion which is characterized by flat to undulating plains and red earth soils.

The project operates under the Native Forest from Managed Regrowth methodology. Unlike Human-Induced Regeneration, which often focuses on suppressing grazing pressure to allow trees to return, NFMR is specifically designed for land that has undergone comprehensive mechanical or chemical clearing for pastoral use in the past. The project activity involves ceasing these clearing activities to allow native vegetation to regenerate from in-situ sources such as rootstock, lignotubers, and existing seeds. This method effectively transitions the land from active clearing cycles back to permanent native forest cover.

The region typically experiences a semi-arid climate with an average rainfall of approximately 400-500mm annually. The vegetation in this area is predominantly Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands, which are resilient to drought but frequently managed or cleared for sheep and cattle grazing to open up pasture. By committing to this carbon project, the landholders have agreed to forgo future clearing, thereby sequestering carbon in the regenerating biomass.

An interesting administrative history accompanies this project. It was originally engaged under the Human-Induced Regeneration method before varying to the Native Forest from Managed Regrowth method in 2017, likely to better align with the property's history of mechanical clearing. Additionally, the project proponent changed from an individual participant (Colin Ward) to Devine Agribusiness Carbon Pty Ltd (DAC) in 2017. DAC was subsequently acquired by GreenCollar in 2021, meaning this project is now likely part of the wider GreenCollar portfolio.