Mt Jackson Regeneration Project

Mt Jackson Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located approximately 115km north of Southern Cross in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. It was registered in July 2019 and covers an extensive 117,276.92 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests by altering land management practices to allow native vegetation to regenerate. This method typically requires stopping activities that previously suppressed tree growth, such as modifying the timing and extent of livestock grazing or controlling feral animals, enabling the land to naturally reach a forest cover.

The region surrounding Mt Jackson Station is largely pastoral rangelands heavily utilised for grazing and mining operations. The area experiences a semi-arid climate with low rainfall. Soils in this landscape are generally characterised by red-brown earths, colluvial sandy loams, and clays, particularly near the regional salt lake systems.

This project specifically focuses on the management of the timing and the extent of grazing to establish permanent native forests. Interestingly, the project promotes assisted regeneration relying on in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers, on land that was previously cleared of vegetation and where regrowth had been suppressed for at least 10 years prior to commencement. Additionally, in July 2020, a variation was made to the project area to remove specific listed areas from the project bounds.