Darling River Conservation Initiative - Site #6

Darling River Conservation Initiative - Site #6 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Emaroo Station, approximately 200km west of Bourke in New South Wales. It was registered in April 2019 and covers 51,225.06 hectares. The project's proponent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited, operates as a subsidiary of GreenCollar, Australia's largest environmental market developer.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. This is done on land where vegetation was previously cleared and regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years. Standard requirements for this methodology involve changing land management practices to allow trees to naturally regenerate. For this project, activities include managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as the humane management of feral animals like goats.

The region west of Bourke is a semi-arid environment traditionally used for pastoral operations, predominantly grazing Merino sheep and Hereford cattle. The local landscape experiences low, variable rainfall and is characterised by flat, red sandy soils interspersed with sandy hills.

This project was established in partnership with the Ponder family, who have operated Emaroo Station since 1988. Facing extended periods of severe drought, they integrated carbon farming to provide a crucial alternative income stream. By reducing grazing pressure, upgrading feral goat trap yards, and installing additional water points for rotational grazing, the project has fostered significant native tree and grass regeneration while simultaneously improving the property's drought resilience and native birdlife habitat.