Darling River Eco Corridor #39

Darling River Eco Corridor #39 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Yancannia Station, situated approximately 72km northwest of White Cliffs in the Unincorporated Far West region of New South Wales. Registered in May 2018, the project spans an area of 23,555.66 hectares. The surrounding region is predominantly defined by extensive pastoralism, operating historically as sheep and cattle grazing runs across the arid channel country.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests by facilitating the assisted regeneration of native plant species from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. Standard requirements for this methodology dictate that the project area must be eligible land that was cleared of vegetation and where regrowth was actively suppressed for at least 10 years prior to commencement. The project must eventually achieve a mature forest state, defined by the methodology as having a minimum of 20% crown canopy cover and trees reaching at least two metres in height.

The Far West region's environment is classified as having a semi-arid to hot desert climate characterized by low, variable rainfall. The property features diverse soil types, ranging from red sand and loamy soils on the dry plains to heavy clay soils along the seasonal Yancannia Creek. The native vegetation adapted to these harsh conditions includes robust, drought-resistant species such as Coolabah trees, Dodonaea, and various Eremophila (Emu Bush) varieties.

To achieve its regeneration goals, the project implements the active management of the timing and extent of livestock grazing, alongside the humane management of feral animals such as goats and foxes. By removing these suppression pressures, the land is able to naturally recover, which stabilizes the soils and reduces erosion. An interesting outcome of the project's feral animal management and regeneration activities has been the return of native wildlife to the property, including a reported sighting of a native quoll. Additionally, Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) generated from this project are highly valued in the corporate market; for example, major entities like Westpac have purchased and retired ACCUs from this specific project to meet their Climate Active carbon-neutral certification goals. The project's proponent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited (operating as GreenCollar), is a prominent environmental market developer that secured significant backing when global investment firm KKR acquired a 49.9% stake in the business in 2020 for AUD 100 million.