Forest & Sparse Woody Cover in HIR Projects

Forest and sparse woody vegetation cover in human-induced regeneration ACCU projects and 3km buffer areas around the boundaries of projects, 1988-2022. Data were used to analyse the performance of one of the world’s largest nature-based offset types: human-induced regeneration projects under Australia’s carbon offset scheme. The projects are supposed to involve the human-induced regeneration of permanent even-aged native forests through changes in land management. We analysed 182 projects and found the credited regeneration has largely not occurred. Changes in woody vegetation cover within the areas that have been credited also largely mirror changes in adjacent comparison areas, outside the projects, suggesting the changes are attributable to factors other than the project activities.