Goldfields Pastoral Carbon Aggregation

Goldfields Pastoral Carbon Aggregation is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the remote rangelands of Western Australia, approximately 60 kilometers southeast of the township of Sandstone. Registered in May 2018, the project encompasses a massive area of 591,042 hectares, spanning pastoral leases in the Shire of Sandstone and the wider Goldfields-Esperance region.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves regenerating native forests on land where vegetation growth has been suppressed for at least 10 years, typically by livestock or feral animals. To achieve this, the proponent, RegenCo Pty Ltd, implements land management changes such as controlling the timing and extent of grazing and managing feral animals like goats and camels. These activities allow native vegetation, primarily Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and shrublands, to regenerate and sequester carbon.

The region is characterized by a semi-arid to arid climate with low, irregular rainfall, often receiving less than 250mm annually. The terrain consists of flat to undulating plains with red sandy earth, clay loams, and shallow stony soils typical of the Murchison and Goldfields domains. The primary land use in this area is extensive pastoral grazing for sheep and cattle, often co-existing with mining exploration.

An interesting facet of this project is its commercial performance; it successfully completed a Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC584424) with the Australian Government, delivering 100,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by March 2021. Public reports indicate that properties within this aggregation, such as the Bulga Downs Station, utilized these carbon revenues to diversify income streams and fund pastoral infrastructure improvements during drought conditions. The project also leverages advanced monitoring technology, including digital twinning and satellite imagery, to verify vegetation regrowth.