Bowthorn Human-Induced Regeneration Project

The Bowthorn Human-Induced Regeneration Project is a large-scale vegetation project located on Bowthorn Station, approximately 70km southwest of the indigenous community of Doomadgee and 170km west of Burketown in North West Queensland. Registered in September 2023, the project covers an immense area of 239,049 hectares within the remote Gulf Country. The region is dominated by extensive cattle grazing operations, often referred to as "Gulf Breeding Country," where properties are measured in thousands of square kilometers rather than hectares.

The project operates under the Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) methodology. This specific method requires landholders to undertake activities that allow native forests to regenerate on land where regrowth was previously suppressed, in this case, for at least 10 years. For Bowthorn Station, the primary project activity involves managing the timing and extent of grazing. By controlling stocking densities and allowing rest periods, the proponent aims to reduce the pressure on native vegetation (such as local eucalypt or acacia species), enabling it to reach forest cover status and sequester carbon.

Environmentally, the area experiences a tropical savanna climate characterized by a distinct wet season (monsoon) from December to March and a long dry season. The terrain is diverse, featuring the Nicholson River and its tributaries. Soils on the station are described as varying from red to sandy loams, often supporting improved pastures like Secca Stylo and Buffel grass, alongside native spinifex hills.

An interesting facet of this project is its role in the recent sale of the property. In late 22024, Bowthorn Station was marketed as a "turn-key" operation that included the "Approved HIR Project" as a key asset, eventually selling to a grazing family from Richmond, Queensland. The station also holds cultural significance as the childhood home of Australian author Kerry McGinnis, who detailed her life there in the memoir Heart Country.