Catchment Conservation Alliance - Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site #7

Catchment Conservation Alliance - Great Barrier Reef Initiative Site #7 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 40km east of Monto in the North Burnett region of Queensland. Registered in January 2020, the project covers a substantial area of roughly 6,789 hectares. The site is situated within the headwaters of the Burnett River catchment, a critical area for managing water quality flowing toward the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which focuses on restoring native forest cover on land where vegetation was previously suppressed. Instead of planting seedlings, this method relies on the germination of in-situ seed sources (such as rootstock and lignotubers). To achieve this, the project activities involve the cessation of mechanical clearing and the active management of grazing pressure. This typically includes installing new fencing to control livestock movement and implementing humane control measures for feral animals, allowing the suppressed native woodlands to regenerate naturally.

Environmentally, the region straddles the Brigalow Belt South and South Eastern Queensland bioregions, characterized by a sub-tropical climate with variable rainfall. The terrain is described as undulating, supporting a diverse mix of native vegetation including Silver-leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus melanophloia), Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), and Lemon-scented Gum (Corymbia citriodora). A distinct feature of this specific site is its geology; reports indicate that approximately half of the property lies within the crater of a prehistoric volcano, contributing to unique soil profiles that support this regeneration.

The project is part of a broader collaboration known as the Catchment Conservation Alliance, involving project developer GreenCollar. Beyond carbon sequestration, a primary objective of this initiative is to improve water quality by stabilizing soils and reducing sediment run-off into the Burnett River, thereby generating co-benefits for the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.