Wintinna Station Forest Regeneration Project

Wintinna Station Forest Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on a vast pastoral lease in the Far North of South Australia. The project area spans approximately 377,732 hectares and sits roughly 174km north of Coober Pedy and 75km south of Marla, with the Stuart Highway bisecting the property. Registered in September 2020, the project is managed by proponents Francesca Lumb and Jake Mitchell Fennell, with Carbon Farmers of Australia serving as the agent.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves regenerating permanent even-aged native forests on land where vegetation has been historically suppressed. On Wintinna Station, this is achieved primarily by managing the timing and extent of grazing pressure from livestock and humanely controlling feral animals. By implementing strategic grazing rotations and exclusion fencing, the project aims to allow native species, such as Mulga and native grasses, to regenerate from in-situ seed sources like rootstock and lignotubers.

Environmentally, the region is classified as arid, with a low average annual rainfall of approximately 208mm, though some years see significantly less. The landscape is diverse, divided by the highway into two distinct soil types: the western side features red sandy country supporting Mulga (Acacia aneura) and wiregrass, while the eastern side consists of open tablelands with "gibber" (stony) plains, clay soils, and Mitchell grass. This environment supports the station's primary land use of cattle grazing (breeding and backgrounding), which the proponents integrate with carbon farming activities.

The project is notable for its proponents' active engagement in sustainable agriculture and climate resilience. The owners have participated in trials for "virtual fencing" technology to manage cattle movement more precisely without physical infrastructure, aiding in the protection of regenerating areas. They are also featured by Farmers for Climate Action, highlighting their efforts to improve soil health and drought resilience through rotational grazing strategies on the edge of the Australian outback.