Markarene Regeneration Project

The Markarene Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on the 'Markarene' pastoral station, approximately 100km northeast of Cunnamulla and west of Bollon in South West Queensland. Registered on April 23, 2019, the project covers a total area of 25,241 hectares, within which a specific Carbon Estimation Area (CEA) of approximately 14,000 to 15,000 hectares has been designated for forest regeneration.

The project operates in the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area characterized by semi-arid conditions and red earth soils. The landscape features vegetation typical of the region, including Mulga (Acacia aneura), Ironbark, and Box tree woodlands. Historically, the property was utilized for sheep grazing, which suppressed the regrowth of native vegetation. The region is predominantly pastoral, with land use focused on grazing cattle and sheep on native vegetation.

Under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, the project does not involve planting trees but rather managing the land to allow existing native seed stocks (rootstock and lignotubers) to regenerate into forest. The primary activity on Markarene involves the strategic management of grazing pressure, specifically the transition from sheep to cattle and the implementation of rotational grazing to reduce impact on young trees. Additional activities include the control of feral animals and the cessation of mechanical clearing.

Income generated from the sale of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) has been reinvested into the property to upgrade infrastructure, including the installation of 30km of new fencing and modern cattle yards. The landholders have reported significant ecological changes since the project's inception, noting that regeneration has become dense enough to obscure farm buildings that were previously visible from the homestead.