Regen - Willow Bend

Regen - Willow Bend is an environmental planting project located in the Hilltops Council region of New South Wales, approximately 35km southeast of Cowra and 45km north of Boorowa. Registered on January 14, 2026, the project covers a land area of roughly 30 hectares. The project is situated within the South West Slopes bioregion, an area traditionally dominated by sheep grazing and mixed cropping. The property associated with the project, Willow Bend Station, has a history of producing high-quality fine Merino wool.

The project operates under the Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings-FullCAM Methodology Determination 2024. This methodology involves establishing permanent plantings of native tree and shrub species to sequester carbon. The project activities include planting a mix of species that reflect the local native vegetation community, designed to achieve "forest cover", typically defined as trees reaching a height of at least 2 metres with 20% canopy cover. The carbon sequestered is calculated using the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM), a software tool used by the Australian Government to model carbon flows in land systems.

Environmentally, the region experiences a temperate climate with an annual rainfall average between 600mm and 700mm, supporting reliable pasture growth. The soils in the area are predominantly Red Chromosols and Dermosols, which are texture-contrast soils common to the NSW slopes and suitable for both grazing and native vegetation establishment. An interesting facet of this project is the involvement of participant James Diack, who is a prominent figure in the regenerative agriculture space and associated with the organisation "Soils for Life." This suggests the project may be integrated into a broader regenerative farming strategy, focusing on soil health and biodiversity alongside carbon sequestration.