Sandhill Carbon Regeneration Project

The Sandhill Carbon Regeneration Project is a Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) project located approximately 90km west of Bourke in the Far West region of New South Wales. Registered on September 11, 2023, the project spans a significant area of 17,221 hectares. The project is situated within the Bourke Shire Council area, a region characteristically known for extensive rangeland grazing of sheep, cattle, and goats.

Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) projects focus on restoring native forests on land where vegetation has been historically suppressed, typically by agricultural activities. Unlike environmental planting, HIR does not involve manual tree planting; instead, it relies on managing grazing pressure and controlling feral animals to allow existing seed sources (such as rootstock and lignotubers) to regenerate naturally. The goal is to restore the land to "forest cover," defined as vegetation achieving a height of at least 2 metres and a canopy cover of 20%.

The environment in this part of the Mulga Lands bioregion is semi-arid, with the landscape dominated by red sandy loams and massive red earths. Rainfall is variable and generally low, averaging around 300-350mm annually, which dictates that land management must be carefully balanced with regeneration goals. The project is managed by the Walter Richard Nielsen and Rachael Pamela Nielsen Family Trust, with support from carbon farming service provider Climate Friendly Pty Ltd.