Sandford NFMR Project

The Sandford NFMR Project is a regeneration initiative located on the "Sandford Park" station, approximately 65km south of Charleville in Queensland. Registered in March 2024, the project covers a substantial area of 16,163 hectares within the Murweh Shire. This region, situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, is traditionally dominated by pastoral activities, specifically cattle and sheep grazing. The property itself is situated along the Mitchell Highway and features frontage to the Warrego River.

The project operates under the Native Forest from Managed Regrowth (NFMR) methodology. This framework is designed for land that has previously been cleared for pastoral purposes. By ceasing mechanical or chemical suppression activities, such as broadscale clearing or chaining, the project allows native vegetation to regenerate into forest cover. In this specific location, the regeneration primarily involves Mulga (Acacia aneura) and associated native species, which are resilient and capable of re-establishing from in-situ seed sources and rootstock once suppression pressure is removed.

Environmentally, the region is characterized by a semi-arid climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 500mm, which is summer-dominant. The soil composition at Sandford Park is described as "soft red country" (typical of Kandosols found in Mulga lands), interspersed with stony ridges and open Mitchell grass plains that indicate the presence of clay-rich Vertosols. This mix of red earth and clay soils supports the diverse vegetation mosaic targeted for regeneration.

An interesting facet of this project is the property's history; Sandford Park was held by the same family for 62 years before being sold in 2019 to new owners who are likely integrating this carbon project with their broader pastoral operations. The landscape is noted for its "good quality Mulga," a vegetation type that historically faced extensive clearing for drought fodder but is now increasingly valued for its carbon sequestration potential under schemes like the NFMR.