Cowley Regeneration Project

Cowley Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on Cowley Station, approximately 80 kilometers southeast of Quilpie in South West Queensland. Registered in October 2019, the project covers a massive 94,187 hectares, an area roughly 1.5 times the size of Singapore, situated within the Mulga Lands bioregion.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves regenerating permanent native forests by changing land management practices to allow vegetation to recover. For this property, the primary activity involves managing the timing and extent of grazing by livestock (sheep and cattle) and controlling feral animals, such as goats, which are known to suppress regrowth. By reducing this grazing pressure, the project aims to allow native plant species, managed as "forest" under the carbon scheme, to regenerate from in-situ seed sources like rootstock and lignotubers.

The region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with irregular rainfall, typically averaging between 300mm and 400mm annually. The landscape consists largely of red earth soils (kandosols) supporting "hard mulga" (Acacia aneura) country, interspersed with wooded alluvial plains. Historically, Cowley Station has been a pastoral lease focused on Merino sheep and cattle grazing. The project represents a shift toward integrating carbon farming with traditional pastoralism to improve drought resilience and landscape health.

An interesting note about the area is its remoteness and distinct "Mulga" vegetation; the property is situated near the Paroo River catchment, an area where water management and drought resilience are critical. The Morris family, who are the proponents, have been noted in regional reports for participating in "Grazing BMP" (Best Management Practice) programs to improve sustainability in this harsh environment.