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 85 kilometers east of the coastal town of Carnarvon. Registered on August 26, 2020, the project spans a massive area of approximately 183,830 hectares within the Shire of Carnarvon. The project operates on pastoral land, which is traditionally used for extensive grazing of cattle, sheep, and goats.

The project employs the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves changes in land management to facilitate the regrowth of native forest where vegetation was previously suppressed. For this site, the primary activities include managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and the humane control of feral animals, such as goats, which are prevalent in the region. By reducing this grazing pressure, the project aims to allow existing rootstock and lignotubers to regenerate into permanent even-aged native forests.

Situated in the semi-arid Gascoyne region, the area is characterized by low and variable rainfall and landscape features typical of the Southern Rangelands, such as red sandy earth soils and shallow loams. The vegetation is dominated by Acacia shrublands (Mulga) and other native species adapted to dry conditions. Recent administrative updates indicate a variation to the project area occurred in March 2025, resulting in the removal of specific areas from the project boundary. The project holds a Carbon Abatement Contract with the Australian Government to deliver nearly 400,000 tonnes of abatement.