Catchment Conservation Alliance - Southern Rivers Initiative Site #5

Catchment Conservation Alliance - Southern Rivers Initiative Site #5 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on "Lantana Station," approximately 150km southwest of Charleville in South West Queensland. Registered on October 30, 2017, the project covers a substantial area of 38,021 hectares. The project is managed by Terra Carbon Pty Limited, a subsidiary of the major environmental markets developer GreenCollar.

The project operates within the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area characterized by semi-arid conditions and red or black earth soils. The landscape typically features Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands, Eremophila species, and Poplar Box. The primary land use in this region is grazing for sheep and cattle, which has historically suppressed the regrowth of native vegetation.

As a Human-Induced Regeneration project, the core activity involves altering land management practices to allow native forests to regenerate. For this specific site, the proponents (landowners Carl and Judi Bain) utilize carbon revenues to fund infrastructure improvements such as new fencing and water points. These improvements facilitate "controlled grazing," allowing for strategic rest periods that reduce pressure on vegetation. Additionally, the project involves the humane management of feral animals, specifically goats, which are a major suppressor of regrowth in the Mulga Lands.

This project is part of the broader "Southern Rivers Initiative," a portfolio of projects designed to improve catchment health in the region. By regenerating native vegetation, the project not only sequesters carbon but also aims to stabilize soils, reduce erosion, and improve biodiversity without "locking up" the land, allowing the agricultural enterprise to continue alongside carbon farming.