Nalbarra Regeneration Project

Nalbarra Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located on Nalbarra Station, approximately 80km south of Mount Magnet and 70km north of Paynes Find in the Murchison region of Western Australia. It was registered in November 2017 and initially covered a vast area of 141,230.28 hectares, though this area was varied and reduced in April 2020.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. The methodology requires that the land was previously cleared of vegetation and that regrowth was suppressed for at least 10 years before the project's commencement. Standard requirements dictate the removal or management of these suppressors to allow the natural seedbed to recover.

The Nalbarra Station area is situated in a semi-arid region that typically experiences low rainfall and features an environment of red sandy plains, breakaways, and shallow red loam soils. The general land use in this region is dominated by pastoral grazing, historically for sheep and more recently cattle, along with mining and outback tourism. To meet the project's regeneration goals, the core activities include managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as the humane management of feral animals.

Interestingly, Nalbarra Station is a well-known working pastoral lease and outback station stay that offers accommodation and tourism activities for travellers along the Great Northern Highway. The carbon project is managed by the proponent, Hamilton Agriculture Pty Ltd, with Select Carbon Pty Ltd acting as an agent. The project was originally registered to John Wainwright before the participant name was varied to Hamilton Agriculture in November 2018. Under its current Clean Energy Regulator contract, the project successfully delivers Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) to the Commonwealth. Additionally, the massive project footprint overlaps with several mining exploration tenements, highlighting the region's dual use for carbon farming and mineral exploration.