Woodvale Human Induced Regeneration Project

Woodvale Human Induced Regeneration Project is a carbon farming initiative located on the Woodvale pastoral station in the Paroo Shire of South West Queensland. The project area is situated approximately 70km northwest of the town of Bollon and 130km east of Cunnamulla. Registered in August 2017, the project covers a significant area of 9,935 hectares.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, which involves regenerating permanent even-aged native forests. To achieve this, the proponent manages the land to suppress activities that previously prevented regrowth, such as mechanical clearing or intensive grazing. By controlling the timing and extent of grazing, the project allows native vegetation, specifically local species found in the Mulga Lands bioregion, to regenerate from in-situ seed sources like rootstock and lignotubers.

The region is defined by a semi-arid climate with variable rainfall and soils predominantly consisting of red earths and sandy loams. This environment typically supports Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and shrublands, which are the primary target for regeneration in this project. The surrounding land use is almost exclusively pastoral, focused on sheep and cattle grazing.

An interesting aspect of this project is its management by CO2 Australia, a major service provider in the carbon sector, acting as the agent for the proponent, Michael James Robert Waugh. The project has a crediting period running until 2042 and a permanence obligation of 100 years, ensuring the regenerated forest is protected until 2118.