Cobbrum Native Forest Regeneration Project

The Cobbrum Native Forest Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 80 kilometers northeast of Cunnamulla in South West Queensland. Registered in November 2017, the project covers a massive area of 32,823 hectares. The property is situated within the "Yarwouth" locality in the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area predominantly utilized for extensive sheep and cattle grazing.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects focus on restoring native forests in areas where vegetation has been historically suppressed. This is typically achieved by managing the timing and extent of grazing or excluding livestock entirely to allow natural regrowth. To generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), the project area must regenerate to "forest cover," defined as trees reaching at least two meters in height with a canopy cover of 20% or more.

The environment in this region is classified as semi-arid, with an average annual rainfall of approximately 380mm. The landscape typically features red earth soils (Kandosols) and clay plains, supporting vegetation dominated by Mulga (Acacia aneura) and Poplar Box woodlands. These hardy soil and vegetation types are well-suited to carbon sequestration efforts in dryland climates.

A notable aspect of this project is its overlap with high-value conservation areas. The property contains the "Cobbrum Lake Nature Refuge," a privately protected area recognized by the Queensland Government. In 2023, the property received a state grant to replace fencing specifically to prevent livestock (goats, sheep, and cattle) from entering the refuge, directly aligning with the carbon project's activity of excluding grazers to protect biodiversity and promote regeneration.