Cooneybar Station Forest Regeneration Project

Cooneybar Station Forest Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Cooneybar Station, approximately 90km northeast of Cobar and 110km northwest of Nyngan in New South Wales. It was registered in November 2016 and covers an expansive 18,608 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve implementing changes in land management practices to allow native forests to regenerate from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, or lignotubers. To be eligible and earn carbon credits, proponents must cease destructive activities such as overgrazing or mechanical clearing. The ultimate goal is for the regenerating native trees to attain a height of at least 2 meters and achieve a minimum canopy cover of 20% over the carbon estimation area. For this project, the primary activity is the management of the timing and extent of livestock grazing.

The Cobar and Nyngan region is well known for pastoral activities, including sheep and cattle grazing, nomadic goat harvesting, and some opportunistic cropping of cereals. The area experiences a semi-arid climate with highly variable, low annual rainfall averaging around 350-400mm. The region's environment is typically characterized by red loamy soils, sandy loams, and patches of clay, supporting resilient native vegetation like mulga and white cypress pine.

The project takes place on land that had been previously cleared of vegetation and where regrowth was suppressed for at least 10 years prior to commencement. While it was initially contracted in November 2016 under the Carbon Abatement Contract CAC342701 to deliver carbon abatement, public records indicate this contract lapsed or was terminated in February 2018. Notably, the underlying Cooneybar Station property was listed for sale and subsequently sold for $1.3 million in July 2021. Furthermore, regulatory notices indicate that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) initiated a proposed deregistration of the proponent company, Cooneybar Station Pty Limited, in September 2023.