Trilby Human Induced Regeneration Project

The Trilby Human Induced Regeneration Project (ERF180198) is a large-scale Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located at Trilby Station, situated approximately 25km southwest of Louth and 125km southwest of Bourke in western New South Wales. Registered on May 1, 2023, the project covers an expansive area of 128,206 hectares, encompassing a significant portion of the historic pastoral station which lies along the Darling River.

The project operates within the semi-arid rangelands of the Australian Outback, a region characterized by low, variable rainfall and hot summers. The landscape typically features grey clay soils on the river floodplains, transitioning to red earths and sandy loams in the back country. The primary land use in this region is extensive grazing for Merino sheep and goats, alongside a growing outback tourism industry. Trilby Station itself is a well-known destination on the "Darling River Run," offering farm-stay accommodation and history tours.

This project employs the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology. Unlike tree planting projects, HIR focuses on assisting the natural regeneration of native forests from in-situ sources (such as existing seeds, rootstock, or lignotubers) that have been suppressed for at least 10 years. To achieve this, the project proponents, Terra Carbon Pty Limited working with the landholders, implement management activities to reduce suppression pressure. This primarily involves managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing and controlling feral animals (such as goats and pigs) to allow young trees to establish and reach forest cover maturity.

Trilby Station has a rich pastoral history, having been owned by the Murray family for seven generations since 1860. The property was originally part of the massive "Dunlop Station," which is famous for being the first shed in the world to complete a mechanical shearing in 1888. The owners have historically integrated carbon farming with their wool and meat production to improve infrastructure and drought resilience, often utilizing carbon income to invest in fencing and water points that allow for better rotational grazing.