Darling River Conservation Initiative (Revoked)

The Darling River Conservation Initiative (Project ID: ERF111340) was a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in northern New South Wales, approximately 25 kilometers west of the opal-mining town of Lightning Ridge. Registered on March 23, 2017, the project covered a significant area of 6,781 hectares. The region falls within the semi-arid zone of the Walgett Shire and Brewarrina Shire, an area predominantly utilized for extensive grazing of sheep and cattle. The landscape is characterized by the floodplains and channels associated with the wider Darling River catchment, featuring heavy grey clay soils (vertosols) on the plains and red earths on the ridges. Rainfall in this environment is variable and generally low, averaging around 400-450mm annually, which drives the boom-and-bust nature of the local vegetation.

The project operated under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which credits landholders for regenerating native forests by suppressing activities that previously prevented growth. In this specific case, the project activities involved managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and controlling feral animals to allow native vegetation, suppressed for at least 10 years prior, to regenerate from in-situ seed sources like rootstock and lignotubers.

Notable for its scale and location, the project was managed by proponent Terra Carbon Pty Limited, a subsidiary of the major environmental markets developer GreenCollar. The project held a carbon abatement contract with the Australian Government to deliver carbon credits (ACCUs). However, the project was voluntarily revoked on August 20, 2025, under Section 30 of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015. Such revocations typically occur when a proponent chooses to exit the scheme, often due to land sales, restructuring, or transitioning the land to different management priorities.