Paroo Station Regeneration Project

Paroo Station Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 58km northwest of Wiluna and 132km east of Meekatharra in the Mid West region of Western Australia. Registered in December 2021, the project covers a vast area of 322,821 hectares on the Paroo Station pastoral lease. The station acts as a dual-use property, historically supporting cattle and sheep grazing while also hosting significant mining operations nearby.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which differs from environmental planting by relying on natural regrowth rather than manual tree planting. To generate carbon credits, the project proponents must manage the timing and extent of grazing pressure, typically by installing fencing or reducing livestock density, to allow suppressed native vegetation (such as Mulga woodlands) to regenerate into a permanent even-aged forest. The land must have been free of forest cover for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement to be eligible.

Environmentally, the region is characterized by a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) with low, irregular rainfall and high evaporation rates. The landscape typically features red sandy earth and red-brown hardpan soils that support Mulga (Acacia aneura) shrublands and other drought-resistant native vegetation.

A notable aspect of this project is the involvement of Mitsui E&P Australia (MEPAU), a major oil and gas producer, which acts as the agent and participant. Through its subsidiary, Outback Carbon, Mitsui utilizes this project to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) as part of its decarbonization strategy. Additionally, the property has a rich history, having once hosted the highest-elevation railway station on the Western Australian government network and currently coexisting with the world's largest lead carbonate mine, the Paroo Station Mine.