The Range' Forest Regeneration Project

'The Range' Forest Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 105km north-northeast of the opal-mining town of White Cliffs in the Unincorporated Far West region of New South Wales. Registered in November 2016, the project covers a substantial holding of 27,591 hectares. The site sits roughly equidistant between White Cliffs and Wanaaring, situated within the remote rangelands of the Australian outback.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves regenerating native forests by removing or managing suppression activities, primarily grazing and land clearing. Rather than planting new trees, the project facilitates the regrowth of in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers, which have been suppressed for at least 10 years. Key activities for this project include managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and the humane control of feral animals, allowing the native vegetation to recover and store carbon.

The region is defined by a semi-arid to arid climate with a low average rainfall of approximately 275mm per annum. The landscape typically features flat red loams to sandy loam soils, supporting vegetation such as scattered Mulga (Acacia aneura), Rosewood, and Box trees. The area is traditionally used for pastoral grazing, specifically for sheep, goats, and cattle.

The project is undertaken by proponents Brett and Peta Norman and Leslie and Mary-Anne Watson, with Carbon Farmers of Australia acting as a participant/agent. Historical property listings for "The Range" highlight its infrastructure, including extensive hinge-joint boundary fencing, which is conducive to the precise management of grazing pressure (particularly goats) required to meet the strict "even-aged native forest" regeneration standards of the HIR method.