Central Australian Carbon Regeneration Project

Central Australian Carbon Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 55km northeast of Marla in the Far North region of South Australia. It was registered in September 2023 and covers a massive 376,683 hectares.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve allowing native forests to regenerate naturally from in-situ seed sources, such as rootstock and lignotubers. Rather than manually planting trees at a set stocking density (such as 200 stems per hectare required in Environmental Plantings), the HIR methodology requires landholders to cease suppressive activities so that the natural vegetation can regenerate to achieve native forest cover (defined as at least 20% canopy cover and 2 metres in height).

The Far North region around Marla and Oodnadatta is characterised by expansive pastoral leases, which are primarily used for broadacre cattle and sheep grazing. The environment is highly arid, experiencing very low annual rainfall (averaging around 230mm near Marla), and the regional soils typically consist of desert loams, red sandy soils, and expansive stony gibber plains with clay subsoils.

This project aims to establish permanent native forests by strategically managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, alongside implementing the humane management of feral animals. Interestingly, the project is being conducted on land that was previously cleared of vegetation, where regrowth had been suppressed for at least 10 years prior to the project's commencement. Originally registered by Central Australian Carbon Pty Ltd, the project's proponent was varied to RegenCo Projects Pty Ltd in December 2025.