Koonaburra Regeneration Project

Koonaburra Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 100km north-east of Ivanhoe and 140km south-west of Cobar in the remote rangelands of Western New South Wales. Registered in October 2021, the project covers a vast area of over 46,000 hectares. The region historically supported large-scale grazing operations for sheep, cattle, and goats before shifting toward conservation land use.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves regenerating native forests by removing suppression activities that prevent trees from growing. In this specific project, the primary activity is the humane management of feral animals. By controlling grazing pressure, likely from feral goats which are prevalent in the Cobar Peneplain, the project aims to allow native vegetation to recover and reach forest cover status.

Environmental conditions in this region are semi-arid with an average rainfall of approximately 350mm (14 inches). The landscape is characterized by level to undulating terrain featuring red sandy loams, dune fields, and sandplains. The area is known for its "melon holes" (gilgais), natural depressions that retain water, and supports vegetation types such as Mulga, Cypress Pine, Yarran, and Bimble Box.

A significant aspect of this project is its ownership and purpose. The property, formerly known as "Koonaburra Station," was acquired by the New South Wales Government in late 2021 to be added to the National Park estate. Consequently, the project represents a transition from commercial pastoralism to conservation, managed by the state government (currently under the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water) to protect habitat for threatened species like the Major Mitchell’s cockatoo and Mallee fowl while generating carbon credits.