Thargomindah Regeneration Project

Thargomindah Regeneration Project is a human-induced regeneration project located on Thargomindah Station, approximately 15km southeast of the town of Thargomindah in far south-west Queensland. It was registered in September 2023 and covers 47,003ha.

Human-induced regeneration (HIR) projects involve establishing permanent native forests by changing land management practices to allow the land to naturally recover, rather than planting new trees. This project establishes permanent native forests through assisted regeneration from in-situ seed sources, including rootstock and lignotubers, on land that was previously cleared. To allow the forest to successfully regenerate, the project involves the active management of the timing and extent of livestock grazing.

The Thargomindah region is traditionally known for extensive pastoral grazing operations. The climate is classified as semi-arid with low rainfall, averaging approximately 285mm annually. The local environment features spectacular red earth soils (kandosols) and expansive clay floodplains that naturally support resilient Gidyea, Eucalypt, and Mulga woodlands.

This project is notably supported by a first-of-its-kind carbon farming and finance partnership. In 2023, the Kullilli Bulloo River Aboriginal Corporation (KBRAC) collaborated with the carbon service provider Climate Friendly and Conscious Investment Management to acquire the pastoral lease for Thargomindah Station using a loan backed by the project's forecasted carbon credit income. This historic purchase enabled the Kullilli people to return to their traditional lands after over a century of dispossession, allowing them to directly manage the property, regenerate the native forest, and protect culturally significant sites, including an ancestral burial sandhill. Over its 25-year crediting period, the project is projected to generate roughly 270,000 Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).