Boatman Regeneration Project

Boatman Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration project located in the Murweh Shire, approximately 200km southeast of Charleville in South West Queensland. It was registered in September 2020 and covers 35,580.81ha.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects involve regenerating permanent native forests by changing land management practices. Under standard requirements, these projects must demonstrate that the regenerated area can reach forest cover (at least 20% canopy cover and trees reaching 2m in height) on land where vegetation was previously suppressed for at least 10 years.

The Murweh Shire region's land use is overwhelmingly pastoral, with a heavy focus on extensive sheep and cattle grazing on large leasehold properties. The local environment is considered semi-arid, experiencing low and erratic average rainfall typically between 380mm and 500mm annually. Soils in the region are generally shallow sandy loams overlying clay subsoils, occasionally featuring gilgai formations in flatter areas.

This project establishes permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. To achieve this, project activities include ceasing mechanical or chemical suppression of regrowth, actively managing the timing and extent of grazing, and humanely controlling feral animals. The proponent, WJ & CM Whatmore Family Trust, are active cattle graziers in the Morven and Boatman area, known for breeding Santa Gertrudis and Droughtmaster cross cattle. Alongside project partner Climate Friendly Pty Ltd, the family has integrated this carbon sequestration effort into their existing pastoral enterprise to diversify their land use.