Darling River Conservation Initiative - Site #6

Darling River Conservation Initiative - Site #6 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the remote rangelands of Western New South Wales, approximately 55km south-southeast of Wanaaring and 100km northwest of Tilpa. Registered in April 2019, the project covers a substantial area of 51,225 hectares within the Mulga Lands bioregion. This region is traditionally utilized for extensive grazing of sheep, cattle, and goats, which has historically suppressed the regrowth of native vegetation.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects focus on restoring native forests on land where regrowth has been suppressed for at least 10 years, typically by livestock or feral animals. To generate carbon credits, the project proponent must implement specific management activities to cease these suppression causes. For this project, activities include managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and humanely controlling feral animals, such as goats, to allow the landscape to recover.

The project operates in a semi-arid climate characterized by low and variable rainfall. The local environment features flat red sandy soils, sand hills, and ephemeral watercourses. The vegetation is dominated by species resilient to these harsh conditions, including Mulga (Acacia aneura), Turpentine (Eremophila sturtii), and Hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa). By allowing these native woodlands to regenerate, the project not only sequesters carbon but also helps stabilize soils and reduce erosion in this fragile landscape.

While Terra Carbon Pty Limited is the registered proponent, the project is actively managed in association with GreenCollar. The initiative is part of a broader conservation effort in the Darling River catchment, aiming to improve biodiversity and land condition alongside carbon abatement. The regeneration of native cover is critical for reversing land degradation caused by decades of overgrazing in the area.