Gumbalie and Snake Gully Regeneration Project

The Gumbalie and Snake Gully Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 55km northwest of Bourke in the semi-arid rangelands of New South Wales. Registered in September 2020, the project spans a significant area of nearly 25,000 hectares. The region is historically dominated by pastoral leases used for grazing sheep, cattle, and goats, characterized by its vast, flat landscapes and iconic red soil.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects in this context focus on restoring native forest cover through changes in land management rather than active planting. For this project, the proponents, Andrew and Fiona Adams, utilize method activities such as controlling feral animals and managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing. These actions are designed to suppress the threats that previously prevented vegetation from maturing, allowing the in-situ seed bank and suppressed rootstock, typically native species like Mulga (Acacia aneura) and Bimble Box, to regenerate into permanent forest.

The environment in the Bourke Shire is classified as semi-arid, with low and variable rainfall averaging around 300-350mm annually. The terrain typically consists of red earth and sandy loam soils, often associated with the "Mulga lands" bioregion. Interestingly, local maps place the "Gumbalie" and "Snake Gully" stations in the vicinity of Toorale National Park, an area recognized for its significant wetlands and cultural heritage, suggesting the project plays a role in a broader landscape of ecological recovery in western NSW.