Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative Site #13

Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative Site #13 is a large-scale Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Shire of Murchison, Western Australia. Geographically, the project is situated approximately 50km north of the Murchison Settlement (a key local roadhouse and community hub) and roughly 260km west of the major regional town of Meekatharra. Registered in September 2020, the project encompasses a massive area of 178,162 hectares. The region is defined by its remote, semi-arid landscape and is predominantly utilized for pastoral purposes, specifically the grazing of sheep, cattle, and rangeland goats, alongside mining exploration activities.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which is designed to regenerate permanent native forests on land where vegetation has historically been suppressed, typically by livestock overgrazing or feral animals. The core mechanism involves changes in land management, such as the installation of new fencing and the humane control of feral animals (primarily goats in this region), to reduce grazing pressure. This "ceasing of suppression" allows in-situ seed banks, rootstock, and lignotubers to regenerate naturally. The goal is for the regenerating vegetation to eventually achieve "forest cover" status, defined as trees over two metres high with a canopy cover of at least 20%.

Environmentally, the site falls within the Murchison bioregion, an arid zone characterized by low and highly variable rainfall (averaging 200–250mm annually). The terrain typically consists of red sandy earths, shallow loams, and extensive hardpan plains. These soil types support the growth of Mulga (Acacia aneura) woodlands and other acacia shrublands, which are the primary target vegetation for carbon sequestration in this area.

An interesting facet of this project is its inclusion in Terra Carbon's broader "Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative," a portfolio approach that aggregates multiple pastoral stations to streamline management and compliance. Public records indicate this specific site (ERF158690) has secured a Carbon Abatement Contract (CAC388920) with the Australian Government, validating its contribution to national emissions reduction targets.