Darling River Conservation Initiative Site #8

Darling River Conservation Initiative Site #8 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on the 'Everdale' property, approximately 110km west-south-west of Cobar in New South Wales. Registered in May 2019, the project covers a substantial area of 14,596 hectares within the Cobar Peneplain bioregion. This region is historically dominated by rangeland grazing, specifically for sheep and goats, which has often led to the suppression of native vegetation growth over decades.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves implementing land management changes to facilitate the regrowth of native forest where it has been suppressed for at least 10 years. Unlike tree planting projects, HIR relies on the germination of in-situ seed sources (soil seed banks) and rootstock. For Site #8, the primary activities involve managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and actively controlling feral animals, specifically goats, to reduce grazing pressure. This allows the native acacia woodland and eucalypt forest to regenerate naturally.

Environmentally, the site is situated in a semi-arid zone characterized by "soft" red sandy soils, ranging from open shrublands interspersed by watercourses to mulga ridge country. The regeneration of vegetation in this landscape is critical for stabilizing these fragile soils and reducing erosion. The project reports specifically target the regeneration of over 5,000 hectares of forest cover within the property boundary, supporting biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in the Western Division of NSW.

The project is managed by Terra Carbon Pty Limited, a subsidiary of GreenCollar. Operational reports indicate significant infrastructure investments have been made to support the project's goals, including the installation of Total Grazing Pressure (TGP) fencing to subdivide paddocks and the removal of hundreds of feral goats. These measures not only generate carbon credits but also aim to improve the land's long-term agricultural productivity by restoring ground cover and soil health.