Wongamere Regeneration Project

The Wongamere Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 135km northeast of Cunnamulla and north of Bollon in South West Queensland. Registered in March 2023, the project covers 5,862 hectares of the "Wongamere" pastoral station. The region is situated within the Mulga Lands Bioregion, an area historically dominated by sheep and cattle grazing operations.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects focus on restoring native forests through alternative land management rather than planting new trees. This specific project relies on the assisted regeneration of native vegetation from in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers. To achieve this, the project proponent must permanently cease mechanical or chemical clearing and significantly manage the timing and extent of livestock grazing. For Wongamere, this involves reducing stocking rates to less than half of the historical baseline to allow the suppressed vegetation to recover and reach forest cover status.

The environmental conditions of the site are typical of the semi-arid Mulga Lands. The area generally experiences variable rainfall, averaging around 450mm to 550mm annually. The soils are predominantly Kandosols, massive red earths and sandy loams that are characteristic of Mulga (Acacia aneura) vegetation zones. These soils are often low in fertility and hold water poorly, making the management of grazing pressure critical for vegetation survival during dry periods.

A notable feature of the Wongamere project is its commitment to a 100-year permanence period, ensuring the carbon is stored for a century. The project is managed by Tasman Environmental Markets (TEM) and is being assessed under the "Accounting for Nature" framework to verify biodiversity co-benefits. Ecological surveys have identified the property as habitat for threatened species such as the Grey Falcon, Painted Honeyeater, and Yakka Skink, with Nebine Creek providing a significant riparian biodiversity corridor along the western boundary.