Orient Regeneration Project

Orient Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 70km west of Thargomindah in South West Queensland. It was registered in November 2017 and covers an extensive area of 261,947.27 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent native forests by fundamentally changing land management practices. This methodology requires ceasing the mechanical or chemical destruction of regrowth and managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing. These activities allow the native forest to safely regenerate from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers, on land where regrowth had previously been suppressed for at least 10 years.

The Thargomindah area of South West Queensland is best known for its extensive pastoral leases focused on cattle and sheep grazing. The region's environment is classified as semi-arid outback with low and variable rainfall, and the landscape is generally dominated by red earths, clay pans, and sandy loam soils.

This project was uniquely established in a collaborative partnership between the landholder (Usher Pastoral Company Pty Ltd), the project agent (Climate Friendly Pty Ltd), and the Traditional Owners, the Kullilli people (represented by the Kullilli Bulloo River Aboriginal Corporation). By reducing the impact of agricultural practices on regenerating native trees, the project brings substantial investment into new infrastructure, supports adaptive grazing practices, and provides direct cultural and economic benefits to the Kullilli people. Additionally, Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated from this project have been acquired and retired by notable entities such as the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Australian Mutual Bank to meet their carbon neutral offset goals. The project successfully secured a Carbon Abatement Contract in April 2020 (CAC407969), which has since been completed.