DAC-2016-01

DAC-2016-01 is a Native Forest from Managed Regrowth project located at Marlee Downs, a property situated approximately 165km southwest of Mitchell in the rangelands of southern Queensland. It was registered in November 2016 and covers an area of 6,235.21 hectares.

Native Forest from Managed Regrowth projects establish permanent native forests through assisted regeneration on land that was previously subjected to at least one comprehensive clearing for pastoral use. These projects require the cessation of mechanical or chemical destruction, or the suppression of regrowth, allowing native vegetation from in-situ seed sources (including rootstock and lignotubers) to naturally recover.

The Maranoa region around Mitchell is primarily known for large-scale cattle and sheep grazing operations. The environmental conditions in this semi-arid zone feature an annual average rainfall of around 450 mm. The soils consist predominantly of flat to gently undulating red and yellow earths, which traditionally support native vegetation such as Mulga, Ironbark, and Box.

The project is managed by the Douglas family in partnership with Devine Agribusiness Carbon Pty Ltd and GreenCollar. Revenue generated from the carbon project has been directly reinvested into farm infrastructure, including over $500,000 spent on fencing and initiatives to reduce water run-off. By reducing cattle stocking rates and resting paddocks, the land has seen a resurgence in native flora such as mulga mitchell, mulga oats, and kangaroo grass. The landholders have also reported significant biodiversity improvements, observing increased populations of native bees and prolific birdlife, including zebra finches, robins, and wedge-tail eagles.