Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative Site #8

Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative Site #8 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia, approximately 80km east of the coastal town of Carnarvon. Registered in August 2020, this large-scale project covers an expansive area of 183,830 hectares, situated within the arid rangelands typical of the Gascoyne bioregion. The project operates on pastoral leasehold land, which has historically been utilized for extensive sheep, cattle, and goat grazing.

The project employs the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which focuses on regenerating native forest cover by managing the threats that suppress vegetation growth. In this specific location, the primary activities involve managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and humanely controlling feral animals, such as goats, which are a significant pest in the region. By reducing this grazing pressure, the project aims to allow local species, predominantly Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and associated shrublands, to regenerate naturally from in-situ seed sources like rootstock and lignotubers.

Environmentally, the site is characterized by a semi-arid to arid climate with low and highly variable rainfall, averaging roughly 200mm annually. The soils in this area are typically red sandy earths, shallow loams, and red-brown hardpan, which support the native Acacia shrublands. Notably, the project is part of a broader aggregation managed by Terra Carbon Pty Limited, known as the "Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative," which spans multiple pastoral stations across the state. In March 2025, the project underwent a variation to remove specific areas from its registered boundary, a common practice to excise non-compliant or physically ineligible land.