Cobbrum Native Forest Regeneration Project

Cobbrum Native Forest Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located at Cobbrum Station, approximately 80km northeast of Cunnamulla in south-west Queensland. It was registered in November 2017 and originally covered 32,823.75 hectares, though a variation in April 2020 removed specific areas from the project footprint.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest involves establishing permanent native forests through assisted regeneration. The standard requirements for this methodology dictate that the project must implement new land management activities to achieve at least 20% canopy cover and trees of at least 2 metres in height. This requires the land to have been previously cleared of vegetation and for regrowth to have been suppressed for at least 10 years prior to commencement. To achieve regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers, the project proponent is actively excluding livestock and managing the timing and extent of grazing.

The Cunnamulla region is situated in the semi-arid Mulga Lands of Queensland, an environment characterised by a dry climate and low rainfall. The broader Paroo Shire area is widely known for its pastoral history, with the dominant regional land use being expansive sheep and cattle grazing. The local environment typically features native mulga shrublands, red earths, and clay plains.

An interesting ecological feature of the property is the Cobbrum Lake Nature Refuge, a 1,231-hectare protected area covering a large claypan lake. During wetter years, this ephemeral lake provides vital habitat for large numbers of native waterfowl and international migratory waders. Historically, the Cobbrum pastoral lease was once owned by Sir Sidney Kidman, the famous Australian "Cattle King," who acquired the property in 1887 as part of his vast transcontinental chain of supply stations. Today, the carbon project is managed by Kerin Carbon 2 Pty Ltd and DLF Resources Pty Ltd, and it has successfully supplied Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to buyers such as the Commonwealth Government via a fixed delivery contract and Woodside Energy.