Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative Site #23

Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative Site #23 is a Human-induced regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 60km east of Carnarvon in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. It was registered in December 2022 and covers a significant area of 25,732 hectares.

Human-induced regeneration projects involve establishing permanent, even-aged native forests by assisting natural regeneration on land that has been cleared of vegetation and where regrowth has been actively suppressed for at least 10 years. Under this methodology, proponents must cease the suppressive activities by taking specific actions, such as managing the timing and extent of grazing and managing feral animals in a humane manner.

The Gascoyne region inland from Carnarvon is heavily utilized for extensive pastoral operations, primarily focused on sheep and cattle grazing across large station properties. The local environment features a semi-arid climate with low, variable annual rainfall, and the soils are typically composed of red sandy earths, loams, and alluvial clays near intermittent river systems.

Managed by the proponent Terra Carbon Pty Limited, this project specifically aims to encourage assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including resilient rootstock and lignotubers that have survived past clearing. By reducing grazing pressure from both livestock and feral animals, the initiative allows the degraded rangeland environment to naturally recover, contributing to broader native vegetation conservation across Western Australia's rangelands.