Meeline Station Regeneration Project

The Meeline Station Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Meeline Station, approximately 50km southeast of Mount Magnet in the Murchison region of Western Australia. Registered in July 2019, the project covers a significant expanse of 168,009 hectares. This massive area is part of a pastoral lease traditionally used for sheep and cattle grazing, situated in a remote landscape known for its "dark skies" and vast, desolate beauty.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which facilitates the regrowth of permanent native forests on land where vegetation has been historically suppressed, typically by livestock or feral animals, for at least 10 years. By managing the timing and extent of grazing (activities listed in the project description), the proponents allow native seed stocks already present in the soil to germinate and mature into a forest canopy.

The region is characterized by a semi-arid to arid climate with highly variable rainfall, averaging around 200mm (8 inches) annually. The terrain features mulga shrublands and rugged outcrops, with soil types ranging from red earth and clay-loams to sandy loams, often covered with quartz rocks or laterite. An interesting historical note is that during the 1990s, Meeline Station was a popular site for "Astrocamps" organized by astronomical societies due to its lack of light pollution and exceptionally clear night skies. The project is supported by Select Carbon, a service provider acquired by Shell Australia in 2020, highlighting the increasing corporate investment in Australian carbon farming.