Darling River Eco Corridor #30

Darling River Eco Corridor #30 is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 30km northwest of Bourke in western NSW. It was registered in November 2017 and covers 67,278.89 ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve regenerating native trees from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers, to ultimately reach a standard forest cover of at least 2 metres in height and 20% crown cover. To achieve this, the project relies on specific changes to land management. The core activities for this project involve the humane management of feral animals and carefully managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing.

The Bourke region is known for its vast cattle and sheep grazing operations. The area is considered semi-arid with low, highly variable rainfall, and the soils generally consist of floodplain cracking clays, red-brown earths, and sandy loams.

This project was established by the proponent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited, on land that had been historically cleared of vegetation and where regrowth was heavily suppressed for at least 10 years prior to commencement. It serves as a strong example of how carbon and agricultural projects can successfully co-exist. The carbon income has provided the local landholders with the financial security needed to reduce overall grazing pressures across their property, rewarding them with extensive vegetation recovery and critical business resilience during severe drought periods.