Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative Site 9

Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative Site 9 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the remote Upper Gascoyne region of Western Australia. The project is situated approximately 180km east of the township of Gascoyne Junction and covers a substantial area of 338,027 hectares. Registered in November 2020, the project operates within the Shire of Upper Gascoyne, a region historically dominated by extensive pastoral leases for sheep and cattle grazing.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology, which involves regenerating native forests on land where vegetation has been suppressed, typically by overgrazing or feral animals. Unlike environmental planting, HIR relies on existing soil seed banks and rootstock. Project activities focus on managing the timing and extent of grazing pressure, often through the installation of fencing and water infrastructure to control livestock movement, and the humane management of feral herbivores such as goats and camels. To generate credits, the land must transition from cleared or suppressed vegetation to having a forest cover of at least 20% canopy density and 2 meters in height.

The Upper Gascoyne region is characterized by a semi-arid to arid climate with a low median annual rainfall of approximately 200mm to 250mm. The terrain typically consists of broad, flat valleys and low rugged ranges, with soils that are predominantly red earth, sandy loams, and shallow stony soils. The vegetation is naturally dominated by open Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and shrublands, which are well-suited to the project's regeneration goals.

A notable development for this project occurred in January 2026, when the proponent changed from Terra Carbon Pty Limited to Mercuria Commodity Markets (Asia) Pte. Ltd. This shift represents a significant entry of a major global energy and commodity trader into the direct management of Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) projects. The "Site 9" designation suggests this project is part of a larger aggregated portfolio of properties across the Western Australian rangelands, managed collectively to achieve economies of scale in carbon abatement.