Paroo River North Environmental Project

Paroo River North Environmental Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located across the Yerrel and Humeburn stations, approximately 80km northwest of Cunnamulla in South West Queensland. It was registered in November 2016 and covers an expansive 52,905.20 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve changing land management practices to allow native forests to regenerate from existing in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers. Standard requirements include ceasing activities that suppress regrowth to allow the vegetation to reach a permanent, even-aged forest cover.

The Paroo Shire area is known for broadacre beef cattle and sheep grazing. The region is considered semi-arid with low, variable rainfall, and soils are generally red earth, sandy loams, and clays typical of the Mulga Lands bioregion.

This project was established on land that had been cleared and heavily grazed, with regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years prior to commencement. Project activities involve the cessation of mechanical and chemical destruction of regrowth, actively managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, and removing feral goats to allow native species like Mulga (Acacia aneura) to regenerate.

Beyond carbon sequestration, the project delivers significant co-benefits. It protects 18km of riparian zones along the pristine Paroo River, which feeds into the Ramsar-listed Currawinya Lakes, preventing toxic chemical runoff from entering the waterways. It also shares revenue with the Budjiti Traditional Owners through an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) and hosts cultural camps for Indigenous men in partnership with the local 'Stronger Families, Stronger Communities' program. Since its inception, the project has undergone several participant name changes and is currently run by Lanin Holdings Pty Ltd and Ninal Ventures Pty Ltd.