Wiggera Regeneration Project

Wiggera Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 100km southwest of Cunnamulla in the Paroo Shire of South West Queensland. It was registered in August 2020 and covers a project area of 14,021.21 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent native forests by changing land management practices to allow native vegetation to regenerate on land where it was previously cleared and suppressed for at least 10 years. The goal of this methodology is for the regenerating vegetation to reach a standard forest cover, which is defined under the scheme as achieving at least 20% crown canopy cover and a height of 2 metres.

The Paroo Shire area is widely known for extensive pastoral grazing operations, particularly cattle and sheep. The region features a semi-arid climate typical of the Mulga Lands bioregion, experiencing low and highly variable rainfall. The soils in this environment generally consist of red earths, sandy loams, and alluvial clays near water channels.

To achieve regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers, this project's specific activities involve actively managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, alongside the humane management of feral animals. The project is operated with the assistance of the carbon farming agent Climate Friendly Pty Ltd. Interestingly, the broader Wiggera location is also notable for the presence of Great Artesian Basin discharge springs, such as the Wiggera carpet springs, which support unique and endangered ecological wetland communities.