Boatman Regeneration Project

The Boatman Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on the 'Boatman' pastoral station, approximately 140 kilometers southeast of Charleville in South West Queensland. Registered in September 2020, the project encompasses a massive area of 35,580 hectares within the Murweh Shire. The region is part of the Mulga Lands bioregion, an area traditionally dominated by sheep and cattle grazing operations.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects in this context focus on restoring native forest cover by addressing specific suppressors that prevent regrowth. Instead of planting new trees, the proponent manages the land to allow existing seed stocks and root systems to regenerate naturally. For the Boatman project, this involves cessation of mechanical clearing and carefully managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing to ensure young vegetation, likely Mulga (Acacia aneura) and associated woodlands, can establish itself without being trampled or eaten.

The environment in this part of Queensland is classified as semi-arid, characterized by hot summers and variable rainfall. The landscape typically features red earth soils (Kandosols) and sandy loams, which are naturally low in fertility but well-suited to the native woody vegetation of the Mulga lands. The project is undertaken by the Whatmore family, long-term pastoralists in the region, with carbon service support from Climate Friendly Pty Ltd.