Cowarna Downs Regeneration Project

The Cowarna Downs Regeneration Project is a significant Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 105km east of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. Registered in May 2018, the project encompasses a massive area of 474,781 hectares, situated on the Cowarna Downs pastoral station. The property lies within the Shire of Menzies and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, featuring the Karonie railway siding and areas associated with the Aldiss-Karonie gold district.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, which credits landholders for regenerating permanent native forests on land where vegetation has been suppressed for at least ten years. Unlike environmental planting, this method relies on managing threats, primarily grazing pressure from livestock and feral animals, to allow existing rootstock and lignotubers to regenerate naturally. For Cowarna Downs, the primary activity involves managing the timing and extent of grazing to facilitate the return of native forest cover.

Environmentally, the region is characterized by a semi-arid to arid climate with low and variable rainfall. The landscape typically features sandy or stony soils, sand plains, and rocky hills. The vegetation profile is dominated by Acacia species (such as Mulga), Eucalypt woodlands, and saltbush shrublands. The project is supported by Elders Rural Services, which acts as the agent, facilitating the carbon abatement activities on this extensive pastoral lease.