North Queensland Conservation Initiative Site #4

North Queensland Conservation Initiative Site #4 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 95km southeast of Charters Towers in the dry tropics of Queensland. Registered on September 4, 2023, the project covers a significant area of 27,217 hectares within the Charters Towers Regional local government area. The surrounding region is predominantly utilized for extensive cattle grazing, characterizing the primary land use prior to and alongside the project's implementation.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration methodology, which involves regenerating native forests by removing suppression activities that previously prevented growth. In this specific case, the project focuses on managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing to allow native vegetation to recover from in-situ seed sources and rootstock. This approach typically requires landholders to reduce stocking density or implement rotational grazing strategies to ensure young trees are not eaten or trampled before they can establish.

Environmentally, the Charters Towers region is classified as semi-arid to dry tropical, experiencing a distinct wet season during the summer months and a dry winter. Annual rainfall averages around 650mm. The landscape often features a mix of soil types, including sandy loams, red earths, and areas of basalt influence, supporting open woodlands and savanna ecosystems.

An interesting note regarding this project is its proponent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited, which is an entity associated with the GreenCollar Group. The "North Queensland Conservation Initiative" appears to be a portfolio of projects (including Site #3 at the well-known Kinrara Station) designed to demonstrate how carbon farming can co-exist with commercial grazing operations, providing diversified revenue streams for pastoralists while restoring native biodiversity.