NT Cattle Conservation HIR Project #02142022 HOR

NT Cattle Conservation HIR Project #02142022 HOR is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Horseshoe Bend Station, approximately 160 kilometers south of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Registered in December 2022, the project covers an immense area of nearly 600,000 hectares on a historic pastoral lease that features frontage to the ephemeral Finke River. The region is primarily dedicated to extensive cattle grazing, situated within the arid "Red Centre" of Australia.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which differs from tree planting projects by focusing on restoring native forest cover through management changes. The core activity involves managing the timing and extent of cattle grazing and controlling feral animals (such as camels and horses) to remove "suppressors" that previously prevented vegetation from regrowing. By relieving this pressure, native seed banks in the soil, including rootstock and lignotubers, are able to germinate and establish a permanent even-aged native forest.

Environmentally, the project area lies within the Finke bioregion, characterized by an arid climate with very low median annual rainfall of approximately 152mm. The landscape is dominated by sandplains and dunes featuring red sandy soils (Tenosols and Kandosols). The native vegetation suited to this environment typically includes Mulga (Acacia aneura) and other hardy Acacia species which form the target forest cover for carbon sequestration.

An interesting facet of this project is its proponent, RegenCo, which manages a significant portfolio of similar projects in Central Australia in partnership with Wollemi Capital. These projects often utilize advanced "digital twin" technology to monitor tree growth across vast, remote landscapes. Horseshoe Bend Station itself is historically significant, having served as a staging post for the Overland Telegraph Line and the original North-South road.