'The Range' Forest Regeneration Project

'The Range' Forest Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 105km north-northeast of White Cliffs and 100km southwest of Wanaaring in far western New South Wales. It was registered in November 2016 and covers an expansive 27,591.92 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve altering land management practices to allow native forests to regenerate from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. To meet the methodology's standard requirements, the regenerating native forest must have the potential to reach a minimum of 20% canopy cover and a height of at least 2 metres. This project achieves regeneration by humanely managing feral animals and strategically controlling the timing and extent of livestock grazing on land where vegetation was previously cleared and suppressed for at least 10 years.

The remote outback region between White Cliffs and Wanaaring is primarily used for broadacre pastoral grazing, specifically for cattle, sheep, and goats. The environment is semi-arid, receiving a very low average rainfall of around 275mm per annum. The soils consist generally of flat red loams to sandy loams, which support native arid vegetation like scattered mulga, box trees, and rosewood.

Interestingly, the 68,441-acre property was purchased for $740,000 in July 2015, about a year prior to the carbon project being registered by the proponents. By utilizing secure hinge-joint fencing across the station, the owners are able to manage controlled grazing operations, such as Dorper sheep or goats, in tandem with the carbon sequestration project without compromising the growing forest.