Macintosh et al. (2024): Non-compliance and under-performance in Australian human-induced regeneration projects
Andrew Macintosh, Megan C. Evans, Don Butler, Pablo Larraondo, Chamith Edirisinghe, Kristen B. Hunter , Maldwyn J. Evans, Dean Ansell, Marie Waschka, David Lindenmayer IN: The Rangeland Journal, 46, https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ24024
Rangelands have been advanced as suitable for offset projects because of low opportunity cost and a perception they are extensively degraded. The most prominent example globally is human-induced regeneration (HIR) projects under the Australian carbon credit unit (ACCU) scheme, which are purporting to regenerate permanent even-aged native forests (≥20% canopy cover from trees ≥2 metres high) across millions of hectares of largely uncleared rangelands, predominantly by reducing grazing pressure. Previous research found limited forest regeneration in the credited areas of these projects, and that most of the observed changes in tree cover were attributable to factors other than the project activities. Here we extend this research by evaluating compliance of a sample of 116 HIR projects with regulatory requirements and their performance in increasing sequestration in regeneration.