Catchment Conservation Alliance - Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site #5 (Revoked)

Catchment Conservation Alliance - Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site #5 (Revoked) was a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Maranoa region of Queensland, approximately 60km north of Roma and 30km southeast of Injune. Registered in May 2018, the project covered a significant area of 7,290 hectares. The project was revoked in September 2023 under Section 30 of the CFI Rule, which typically indicates a voluntary revocation by the proponent, often to facilitate a project restructure or exit from the scheme.

The project operated under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves regenerating native forests by ceasing suppression activities rather than planting new trees. In this context, the project activities focused on managing the timing and extent of cattle grazing and controlling feral animals to allow native vegetation to recover from in-situ seed sources. To be eligible, the land must have been cleared and regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years prior to registration, with the potential to reach forest cover (20% canopy density and 2 meters height).

The Maranoa region is predominantly used for beef cattle grazing and is characterized by a semi-arid to sub-tropical climate. Rainfall in the area generally averages between 550mm and 600mm annually, supporting acacia and eucalypt woodlands often associated with the Brigalow Belt. The soils in this vicinity vary from clay-rich soils (Brigalow clays) to sandy loams, which are fertile but susceptible to erosion if vegetation cover is lost.

An interesting aspect of this project was its branding under the "Catchment Conservation Alliance" and "Great Barrier Reef Initiative." Although located inland, the site sits within the Fitzroy Basin catchment. Projects in this alliance typically aim to deliver co-benefits by stabilising soil and reducing sediment runoff into river systems that eventually flow into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, thereby improving water quality while sequestering carbon.