Hillview Emmaville Regeneration Project

The Hillview Emmaville Regeneration Project is a native forest regeneration project located near the rural township of Emmaville, approximately 40 kilometres northwest of Glen Innes in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. Registered in March 2022, the project covers a significant area of 1,389 hectares. The region is traditionally characterized by sheep and cattle grazing, with a history of tin mining and some mixed cultivation.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology. This carbon farming method involves allowing native forests to regenerate on land where vegetation had previously been suppressed for at least 10 years. To achieve this, the project proponents implement activities such as the cessation of mechanical clearing and the strategic management of grazing livestock to reduce pressure on young trees. This allows the underlying seed bank and rootstock to re-establish a permanent, even-aged native forest.

Environmentally, the Emmaville region experiences a cool temperate climate typical of the Northern Tablelands, with an average annual rainfall of approximately 800mm to 850mm. Unlike the heavy basalt soils found further south near Glen Innes, the soils in the Emmaville and Tent Hill district are predominantly metasedimentary "trap rock" and granite-derived soils, which are well-suited to the native vegetation communities being restored.

An interesting aspect of this project is its administrative history. It was originally registered by Hillview Emmaville Farm Pty Ltd, an entity linked to the "Hillview Farms" brand known for supplying fresh, sustainable produce directly to Sydney markets. In January 2023, the project proponent was transferred to Kalm Property Enterprises Pty Ltd (as Trustee for the Kalm No 2 Family Trust). The project is supported by carbon service provider Climate Friendly.