Paroo River South Environmental Project

Paroo River South Environmental Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 75km northwest of Cunnamulla in south-western Queensland. It was registered in November 2016 and covers an area of 41,445.80 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects aim to establish permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. This methodology is specifically applied on land where native vegetation was previously cleared and regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement. Standard requirements for these projects involve ceasing the activities that suppress regrowth, such as the mechanical or chemical destruction of vegetation, and actively managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing to allow the forest to successfully reach maturity.

The broader Cunnamulla and Paroo Shire region is predominantly known for extensive cattle and sheep grazing operations. The environmental conditions are characterised by a semi-arid climate with low, highly variable rainfall. The local soil profile generally consists of red sandy loams, mulga soils, and alluvial clay plains scattered along the Paroo River floodplains.

This project was established to promote the regrowth of native forest while simultaneously protecting local wetlands and river systems. The Paroo River is considered one of the most pristine river systems in southwest Queensland, feeding downstream into the internationally significant Ramsar-listed wetlands of the Currawinya lakes. The project has seen several participant changes since its inception, transitioning from Matthew Parkinson and Corporate Carbon Solutions to the current proponents, Lanin Holdings Pty Ltd and Ninal Ventures Pty Ltd. Additionally, a Commonwealth carbon abatement contract (CAC760482) originally committing 704,525 ACCUs was terminated or lapsed in late 2018. More recently, in December 2024, proponent Lanin Holdings Pty Ltd was listed in a civil jurisdiction dispute against Country Carbon Pty Ltd in the Queensland Supreme Court.