Nunyara Yandaroo Regeneration Project

Nunyara Yandaroo Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 60km west of Bourke in the outback region of New South Wales. It was registered in September 2023 and covers a large area of 7,256.22 hectares. The project is run by Nunyara Pty Ltd as the Trustee for Nunyara Unit Trust, with support from carbon service provider Climate Friendly Pty Ltd.

Human-Induced Regeneration projects involve changing land management practices to allow native forests to naturally regrow on land where human activity previously prevented or suppressed that regrowth. Standard requirements for this methodology involve halting clearing activities and actively managing threats to vegetation so the forest can reach a mature, even-aged canopy. For this specific project, the primary activities include managing the timing and extent of livestock grazing, as well as the humane management of feral animals.

The Bourke region is characterised by a semi-arid climate with low and variable rainfall. The area is historically known for pastoral land uses, primarily extensive cattle and sheep grazing, which aligns with the project's focus on modifying agricultural grazing pressures. Soils in the surrounding area predominantly consist of Red Chromosols and Vertosols (cracking clays), which can be prone to structural decline if overgrazed or heavily degraded.

An interesting note about this project is its reliance on in-situ seed sources to establish the permanent native forests. Rather than planting new seedlings, the project uses existing rootstock and lignotubers that have survived underground. The land had previously been cleared of vegetation, and this natural regrowth was continuously suppressed by livestock for at least 10 years prior to the project commencing.