Duff Carbon Farming Project

Duff Carbon Farming Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located in the Paroo Shire of South West Queensland, approximately 60km northeast of Cunnamulla. It was registered in October 2017 and covers a vast area of 22,308.72 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve restoring native forests on land where vegetation was previously cleared and regrowth has been suppressed for at least 10 years. Standard requirements dictate that proponents must enact specific management activities to allow native seedlings, rootstock, and lignotubers to successfully regenerate and reach native forest parameters. For this project, activities include ceasing the mechanical or chemical destruction of regrowth and actively managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing.

The Paroo Shire and surrounding South West Queensland region are known for rural pastoral activities, predominantly sheep and cattle grazing. The climate is classified as semi-arid with low annual rainfall, averaging 200-400mm. The regional environment typically features shallow alluvial deposits, sandy loams, and expansive clay plains.

This project establishes permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources. Following a proponent variation in March 2020, the project is jointly managed by Paniri Holdings Pty Ltd and Paniri Ventures Pty Ltd. Interestingly, Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated by the Duff Carbon Farming Project have been purchased by major corporations to meet offset targets; for example, British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) retired credits from this project in 2023 to support their PAS 2060 carbon neutrality claims.