Flinders Aggregation Site #5

Flinders Aggregation Site #5 is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located in the rugged Flinders Ranges region of South Australia, approximately 20km north of the township of Blinman. Registered on September 12, 2023, the project covers a substantial area of 52,446 hectares. The region is historically dominated by pastoral leases used for sheep and cattle grazing, as well as conservation areas supporting tourism.

The Human-Induced Regeneration methodology focuses on restoring native forests on land where vegetation growth has been suppressed for at least 10 years, typically by livestock or feral animals. Instead of planting new trees, this project activity involves managing the timing and extent of grazing and controlling feral animals to allow existing in-situ seed sources, rootstock, and lignotubers to regenerate naturally. The goal is to establish a permanent even-aged native forest that sequesters carbon over time.

Environmentally, the project sits within the Flinders Lofty Block bioregion, characterized by a semi-arid climate with distinct hot, dry summers and mild winters. Rainfall in this northern section of the ranges is generally low, often averaging between 200mm and 300mm annually. The terrain likely features quartzite ridges with shallow loamy soils and intervening plains containing red duplex or calcareous soils, supporting vegetation such as native pine, mulga, and mallee.

An interesting note regarding the project proponent, Terra Carbon Pty Limited, is their affiliation with GreenCollar, one of Australia's largest environmental markets investors and project developers. The designation "Aggregation Site #5" suggests this project is part of a broader portfolio of carbon farming initiatives across the entire Flinders region, allowing for streamlined management of multiple properties under a unified carbon abatement strategy.