South Australian Conservation Alliance - Site #2

South Australian Conservation Alliance - Site #2 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located within the Gawler Ranges bioregion of South Australia. Specifically, the project operates on the Hiltaba Nature Reserve, approximately 90 kilometers north of Wudinna. Registered in February 2020, the project encompasses a significant area of 77,354 hectares. The land, historically used for pastoralism, is now primarily managed for conservation and carbon sequestration under a partnership involving the project proponent Terra Carbon (a GreenCollar subsidiary), the Nature Foundation, and the Gawler Ranges Aboriginal Corporation.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which credits carbon stored by regenerating permanent native forests. This method requires landholders to cease activities that previously suppressed vegetation growth, typically intensive livestock grazing or unchecked feral animal populations. For this specific site, the primary activities involve managing the timing and extent of grazing and actively controlling feral animals, particularly goats, to allow native vegetation to recover and reach forest cover maturity.

The region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall between 250mm and 300mm. The landscape is visually striking, featuring the rocky, volcanic hills of the Gawler Ranges rising from sandy plains. The soil composition varies from skeletal, rocky soils on the ranges to calcareous earths and sandy loams on the surrounding plains. These conditions support diverse vegetation, including Mallee, Western Myall, and Spinifex grasslands.

A notable aspect of this project is its co-benefit structure; beyond carbon abatement, it supports the conservation goals of the Hiltaba Nature Reserve and the cultural aspirations of the Traditional Owners. The project has also attracted corporate interest, with Adelaide Airport Limited purchasing offsets from this site as part of its transition toward net-zero emissions.