Darling River Eco Corridor #34

Darling River Eco Corridor #34 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 70km northeast of Bourke in the Mulga Lands bioregion of New South Wales. Registered in May 2018, the project covers a substantial area of 23,260 hectares. The project operates on land historically used for rangeland grazing, situated between the Culgoa and Bokhara rivers, which are tributaries feeding into the broader Darling River system.

The Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology focuses on restoring native forests on land where vegetation has been suppressed for at least 10 years, typically due to agricultural activities. Unlike tree planting projects, HIR relies on assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. To achieve this, the project activities involve managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and humanely controlling feral animals (primarily goats and pigs) to allow native vegetation to recover and reach forest cover status.

The environment in this region of the Upper Darling Plains is classified as semi-arid, with rainfall that is often variable and low. The soils are predominantly red sandy earths and clays (Vertosols and Chromosols), which support native vegetation types such as Mulga (Acacia aneura), Gidgee (Acacia cambagei), and various Eremophila species. These soil types are prone to erosion if vegetation cover is lost, making the stabilizing effect of the regenerating forest ecologically significant.

This project is part of the wider "Darling River Eco Corridor" initiative managed by GreenCollar (the parent company of Terra Carbon). This initiative aggregates multiple properties to create a contiguous corridor for wildlife while allowing landholders to diversify their income through carbon credits alongside traditional grazing. By reducing grazing pressure, the project aims to improve soil health and biodiversity connectivity across the landscape.