Farnham Plains Regeneration Project

Farnham Plains Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 15km northeast of the small township of Eulo in South West Queensland, and roughly 60km west of the larger service centre of Cunnamulla. Registered in September 2019, the project covers a significant expanse of 30,103 hectares within the Paroo Shire. The property, Farnham Plains Station, is a long-standing pastoral holding situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area traditionally dedicated to sheep, cattle, and goat grazing.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which differs from tree planting projects by focusing on restoring native forests through natural regeneration. Instead of planting seedlings, the proponents manage the land to allow existing in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers, to regenerate into a permanent forest. This is primarily achieved by ceasing mechanical or chemical clearing and significantly managing grazing pressure from livestock and feral animals, which previously suppressed vegetation growth for at least 10 years prior to the project.

Environmentally, the region is characterized by a hot, semi-arid climate with low, variable rainfall averaging around 370mm annually, often delivered in summer storms. The terrain features flat to undulating plains with soils ranging from red earths and sandy loams to hard-setting clays and laterite. The vegetation is typical of the "soft mulga" country, dominated by Acacia aneura (Mulga) and native grasses. The project area includes sensitive landscape features such as claypans, which can be prone to scalding and erosion if overgrazed.

The Beresford family, who operate the project, have a deep history in the district dating back to the pioneering era of the sheep industry. Notably, proponent Lauren Beresford was the winner of the 2024 "Tree of Life Award" from the Lachlan Hughes Foundation for her innovative work on the property. Her initiatives included restoring degraded claypans using cattle impact and contour banks to improve soil hydration and ground cover, demonstrating a strong commitment to regenerative agriculture alongside the carbon project.