The Victoria River Carbon Project

The Victoria River Carbon Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the Victoria River District of the Northern Territory, situated roughly 400km southwest of Katherine. It was registered in April 2023 and covers an expansive 523,951.69 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve establishing permanent even-aged native forests by removing activities that naturally suppress tree growth. The standard requirements for this methodology stipulate that the land must have been cleared of native vegetation and had its regrowth suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement. Native forest is then allowed to regenerate from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers.

The Victoria River District is widely known for extensive cattle grazing and large pastoral stations. The region experiences a monsoonal climate with a distinct wet summer and dry winter, classifying much of the area as semi-arid. Soils in the region generally consist of iron-rich basaltic soils, cracking clays on the alluvial floodplains, and shallow, gravelly profiles on drier or steeper terrain.

To achieve continuous forest regeneration, this project involves ceasing any mechanical or chemical destruction of native regrowth. It also incorporates the careful management of the timing and extent of livestock grazing, alongside the humane management of feral animals that would otherwise damage or suppress new native vegetation.

In a notable development regarding the project's proponent, Wonga Ag Pty Ltd is intrinsically linked to the agricultural investment firm Wealthcheck and its director Sam Mitchell. The company acquired several massive cattle stations in the Northern Territory in recent years to pioneer large-scale carbon farming alongside traditional beef operations. However, the firm faced significant financial turbulence, entering liquidation in 2024 following a major $36 million court settlement, highlighting the complex corporate backdrop of these large-scale environmental assets.