Darling River Conservation Initiative Site #12

Darling River Conservation Initiative Site #12 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located on Myrnong Station, approximately 45km west of Wanaaring in the Far West of New South Wales. It was registered in November 2020 and covers 24,936.70 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve changing land management practices to allow native forests to regenerate naturally on land where tree growth has been historically suppressed. Standard requirements under this methodology mandate that regeneration must come from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers, and the vegetation must have the potential to reach a minimum of 2 metres in height with at least a 20% canopy cover. The methodology also requires that the land was previously cleared of vegetation and regrowth was suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement.

The Wanaaring region is part of the semi-arid Mulga Lands bioregion, known primarily for extensive rangeland grazing of cattle, sheep, and goats. The area experiences very low and variable rainfall, typically averaging less than 300mm annually, and features soils consisting predominantly of red sandy loams and red earths.

This project was established by Terra Carbon Pty Limited to foster native regrowth by closely managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing alongside the humane management of feral animals, particularly goats. As part of a larger multi-site conservation aggregation spanning the upper catchments of the Darling River, the project provides large-scale connectivity for wildlife while diversifying income for the local landholder through carbon credits. The project has already prompted significant biodiversity improvements on the station, including the emergence of kangaroo grass, rare rosewood trees, and increased sightings of birds of prey such as wedge-tailed eagles and peregrine falcons.