Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings—FullCAM) Methodology Determination 2024
I, Josh Wilson, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, make the following Determination.
Dated 18 November 2024
Josh Wilson
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Name
2 Commencement
3 Authority
4 Duration
5 Definitions
6 Factors and parameters from external sources
Part 2—Reforestation by environmental or mallee plantings projects
7 Reforestation by environmental or mallee plantings projects
Part 3—Project requirements
Division 1—General
8 Operation of this Part
Division 2—Types of plantings
9 Permanent planting types
Division 3—Land and location
10 Land on which project is implemented
11 Project area
Division 4—Stratification of project area
12 Initial stratification of project area
13 Requirements for carbon estimation areas
14 CEA boundaries
15 Maximum permitted CEA width
16 CEA planting requirements
17 Requirements for an exclusion area
18 Re-stratification of a CEA
Division 5—Domain group—planting types and requirements
19 Mallee plantings
20 Mixed-species environmental plantings
Division 6—Domain group—planting geometry and spacing
21 Narrow linear plantings
22 Wide linear plantings
23 Block planting
24 Mallee plantings—plant spacing
25 Mixed-species environmental plantings—narrow linear plant spacing
26 Mixed-species environmental plantings—wide linear plant spacing
27 Block planting—plant spacing
Division 7—Domain group—stocking density
28 Tube-stock—default values
29 Direct seeding—default values
30 Alternatives to default values
31 Requirements for calibrations
32 Evidence of stocking density
33 Estimating stocking density
34 Number of plots and probable limits of error
35 Determining values for stocking density
36 Establishing a grid overlay
37 Plot shapes—general
38 Plot shapes—block plantings
39 Plot shapes—linear plantings
40 Plots extending beyond CEA
Division 8—Calculating stocking density
41 Calculating stocking density of a plot
42 Calculating average stocking density
43 Calculating margin of error for stocking density
44 Calculating probable limits of error for stocking density
45 Calculating conservative estimate of stocking density
Division 9—Narrow or wide linear plantings—competition from adjacent trees
46 Competition from adjacent trees
47 Determining material competition—individual adjacent trees only
48 Determining material competition—grouped adjacent trees
Division 10—Restricted activities
49 Harvesting
50 Permitted biomass removals
51 Grazing
52 Infill planting
Division 11—Newness and additionality
53 Requirement in lieu of newness requirement
Division 12—Reforestation management plan
54 Requirements for a reforestation management plan
55 Updating a reforestation management plan
Part 4—Net abatement amount
Division 1—Preliminary
56 Operation of this Part
57 Net abatement amount
58 Gases to be taken into account
59 Baseline for project
Division 2—FullCAM modelling
60 FullCAM modelling
61 Modelling scenarios in FullCAM
62 Modelling project scenario
Division 3— Calculation of carbon stock change
63 Calculating initial carbon stock for project area
64 Calculating project area carbon stock at end of reporting period
65 Calculating carbon stock for CEA
Division 4—Calculation of project area emissions
66 Calculating emissions from biomass burning
67 Calculating emissions from fuel use
Division 5—Calculation of the net abatement amount
68 Calculating the net abatement amount for a project
Part 5—Monitoring, record-keeping and reporting requirements
Division 1—Preliminary
69 Application
70 Geospatial information requirements
Division 2—Monitoring requirements
71 Project monitoring
Division 3—Record-keeping requirements
72 Records that must be kept
Division 4—Offsets report requirements
73 Information in first offsets report
74 Information in subsequent offsets report
Division 5—Reporting under section 77A of the Act
75 No division of project area
Schedule 1—Gases accounted for in calculations
This instrument is the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation by Environmental or Mallee Plantings—FullCAM) Methodology Determination 2024.
Commencement information | ||
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
Provisions | Commencement | Date/Details |
1. The whole of this determination | The day after this instrument is registered. |
|
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this determination as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this determination.
This determination is made under subsection 106(1) of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
This determination remains in force for the period that:
Note: A number of expressions used in this determination are defined in section 5 of the Act, including the following:
(a) certificate of entitlement;
(b) eligible offsets project;
(c) permanence period;
(d) project area.
In this determination:
above-ground biomass means all live material in a tree or shrub above the soil substrate and includes the stem and crown.
Act means the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
actual plot location means spatial coordinates, collected in the field using a geographic positioning system, which define the locations of plots.
adjacent tree means a non-project tree that:
adjoining area means the area that extends outwards for 20 metres perpendicular to the long axis of each side of a narrow or wide linear planting as measured from the outer stems of the planting.
below-ground biomass means all live material in a tree or shrub below the soil substrate and includes the tap root or lignotuber, and the lateral roots.
belt planting means a planting that:
block planting—see section 23.
calibration means a calibration used in FullCAM.
carbon estimation area or CEA means an area of land that is within a project area and that meets the requirements in section 13.
carbon pool means a reservoir which has the capacity to accumulate or release carbon, and includes any above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass and debris.
carbon stock of an area of land, at a specified time, means the quantity of carbon held within the area at that time as:
carbon stock change means the change in the quantity of carbon stock over a specified time, expressed in units of mass.
CFI Mapping Guidelines means the guidelines of that name, as published on the Department’s website and as in force from time to time.
CFI methodology determination means a legislative instrument made under section 106 of the Act or as varied under section 114 of the Act.
CO2-e means carbon dioxide equivalent.
crown cover means the area of land circumscribed by the outer limits of the crown (viewed as a horizontal cross-section) of a tree, or collection of trees.
debris means above-ground and below-ground dead plant material.
declaration date means the date on which the declaration of a project as an eligible offsets project under section 27 of the Act takes effect.
Note: The declaration date is different from the planting date and modelling commencement date.
disturbance event means an event, whether natural or caused by humans, that affects the accumulation or loss of carbon stock within the boundaries of a project area.
domain group means a set of:
that taken together define the requirements under which a particular calibration may be applied.
establishment means the act of establishing a mixed-species environmental planting or mallee planting and as a minimum involves the planting of species eligible under this determination.
exclusion area—see section 17.
forest means land of a minimum area of 0.2 hectares on which trees:
forest cover—land has forest cover if the vegetation on the land includes trees that:
forest potential—land has forest potential if:
fuel emissions means emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), or methane (CH4) arising from fossil fuel use in implementing the reforestation project.
FullCAM means:
FullCAM Guidelines means the guidance for using FullCAM for this determination, as published on the Department’s website and as in force from time to time.
GIS means a geographic information system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyse, manage, and present all types of geographical data.
initial carbon stock means carbon stock existing at the declaration date.
intended plot location means the spatial coordinates for a randomly-selected grid intersect from a GIS overlay used to define the proposed location of plots—see section 33.
known weed species has the meaning given in section 20AA of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015.
land management regime means the set of actions, including:
which are applied in a uniform or consistent manner to an area of land.
landscape planting means a planting in an urban centre or locality as follows:
mallee calibration means a calibration described as a mallee calibration in the FullCAM Guidelines.
mallee planting—see subsection 19(1).
mallee species means any of the Australian species of the genus Eucalyptus that generally exhibit a growth form of multiple stems arising from a large underground lignotuber.
Note: Eucalyptus species recognised as having the form of a mallee include:
E. calycogona
E. cneorifolia [Kangaroo Island CS20275]
E. cyanophylla [Loxton cult.]
E. dumosa
E. gracilis [Loxton cult.]
E. horistes
E. incrassata
E. kochii
E. kochii ssp. borealis
E. kochii ssp. plenissima
E. leptophylla
E. loxophleba ssp. lissophloia
E. oleosa
E. plenissima
E. polybractea
E. porosa
E. socialis.
management action means any land management activity that impacts a project area, including but not limited to activities that can be modelled in FullCAM.
mixed-species calibration means a calibration described as a mixed-species calibration in the FullCAM Guidelines.
mixed-species environmental planting—see subsections 20(1) and (2).
model point means a static location defined by latitude and longitude coordinates for each CEA for the purpose of estimating carbon stocks using FullCAM.
modelling commencement means the commencement date used for modelling forest growth in FullCAM, and is the planting date for each CEA.
narrow linear planting—see section 21.
net abatement amount, for a reforestation project, means the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for the project in the reporting period for the purposes of paragraph 106(1)(c) of the Act.
NGER Measurement Determination means the applicable determination made under subsection 10(3) of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
NGER Regulations means the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2008.
permanent planting means a planting:
planting means:
for the purposes of growing project trees;
planting date means, for a CEA, the date on which planting last occurred within the CEA.
planting geometry means one of the following:
planting spacing means the spatial configuration of a planting type and is one of the components that defines a domain group.
planting type is one of the components that defines a domain group and means one of the following:
plot means a defined area of land within a CEA where on-ground samples are collected or for which imagery is analysed.
probable limit of error means a measure of precision estimated as half the confidence interval expressed as a percentage of the estimate calculated here in accordance with Equation 4 for a probability of 0.05 of obtaining a value as or more extreme than the estimate for the two-tailed student’s t distribution.
project tree means a tree or shrub that has been established within a CEA through undertaking a reforestation project.
random planting means a planting not planted in rows.
reforestation management plan—see section 54.
reforestation project—see section 7.
shrub means a perennial plant that:
stem means the ascending axis of a plant and the main structural component of the above-ground portion of trees and shrubs.
Note: Multi-stemmed trees or shrubs are treated as a single plant for estimating stocking density.
stocking density means the number of live individual trees and shrubs per hectare in a CEA or the number of live individual seedlings and seeds per hectare at establishment.
stratification means the division of a project area into one or more CEAs and, if required, exclusion areas.
thinning means the selective removal of trees for ecological purposes, including to maintain species diversity or ground cover.
tree means a perennial plant that:
wide linear planting—see section 22.
6 Factors and parameters from external sources
(1) If a calculation in this determination includes a factor or parameter that is defined or calculated by reference to another instrument or writing, the factor or parameter to be used for a reporting period is the factor or parameter referred to in, or calculated by reference to, the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if:
Part 2—Reforestation by environmental or mallee plantings projects
7 Reforestation by environmental or mallee plantings projects
(1) For the purposes of paragraph 106(1)(a) of the Act, this determination applies to an offsets project if the project involves the establishment of a permanent planting that could reasonably be expected to result in eligible carbon abatement.
(2) A project covered by subsection (1) is a reforestation project.
For the purposes of paragraph 106(1)(b) of the Act, this Part sets out requirements that must be met for a reforestation project to be an eligible offsets project.
The reforestation project must establish by planting, and maintain, permanent plantings that are:
10 Land on which project is implemented
(1) The reforestation project must be implemented on land that is:
(2) The land must not contain woody biomass or an invasive native scrub species that need to be cleared for planting to occur, other than known weed species required or authorised by law to be cleared.
(3) For at least 5 years before the date of the application under section 22 of the Act in relation to the reforestation project, the project area must have been:
(4) Project trees established on land on which a reforestation project is to be implemented must have, to the satisfaction of the Regulator, the potential to attain forest cover.
Note: The potential to attain forest cover may be demonstrated by a description of the species of trees to be planted, the growth characteristics of the species and the anticipated height and crown cover across the stratum area when project trees are at maturity. This information is required to be included in the reforestation management plan, and a copy of that plan is required in each offsets report. See paragraphs 54(3)(e), 73(h) and 74(f).
The boundaries of each project area must be identified in accordance with the CFI Mapping Guidelines.
Division 4—Stratification of project area
12 Initial stratification of project area
Before submitting the first offsets report for the reforestation project, the project proponent must stratify each project area in accordance with this Division.
13 Requirements for carbon estimation areas
(1) A CEA must:
(2) A CEA must:
(1) This section sets out requirements for the boundaries of CEAs.
(2) In addition to the requirements in subsections (3), (4) and (5), the boundaries of each CEA must be defined in accordance with the CFI Mapping Guidelines.
(3) If the plantings in a CEA are established in accordance with a narrow or wide linear planting geometry:
(4) If the plants in a CEA are established in any planting geometry that is not consistent with a narrow or wide linear planting geometry:
(5) If the plantings in a CEA are established:
then, subject to still meeting the requirements of sections 13 and 18, the existing CEA boundary may be used.
(6) The boundaries of each CEA must be defined in each offsets report submitted to the Regulator in which the CEA is described as a CEA.
15 Maximum permitted CEA width
The maximum permitted width for a CEA is the value determined in accordance with sections 21 to 27.
(1) A CEA must contain either:
(2) Only one calibration may be applied to a CEA in a reporting period.
17 Requirements for an exclusion area
Land in each project area on which permanent plantings are not to be established must be defined and mapped as an exclusion area in accordance with the CFI Mapping Guidelines.
(1) A CEA may be re-stratified only as provided in this section.
(2) A CEA must be re-stratified if one or more of the following occurs:
(4) If the reforestation project is carried out in an area previously defined as an exclusion area, the area may be re-stratified as a CEA.
Division 5—Domain group—planting types and requirements
Note: Domain group is defined in section 5, and restricts the circumstances in which a particular calibration may be applied. Additional restrictions on the use of some calibrations may arise due to competition from adjacent trees as determined by Division 9.
(1) A mallee planting is a planting that consists only of mallee species.
(2) A mallee planting may use a calibration only if using it is consistent with the FullCAM Guidelines.
20 Mixed-species environmental plantings
(1) A mixed-species environmental planting is a planting that consists of a mixture of trees and shrubs that:
(2) A mixed-species environmental planting may consist of a mixture of trees and shrubs that reflects the structure and composition of the local native vegetation community.
(3) A mixed-species environmental planting may use a calibration only if using it is consistent with the FullCAM Guidelines.
(4) A mixed-species environmental planting must not use a mallee calibration.
Division 6—Domain group—planting geometry and spacing
A narrow linear planting is a planting that consists of:
A wide linear planting is a planting that consists of:
A block planting is any planting that does not meet the requirements of a:
and which:
24 Mallee plantings—plant spacing
(1) This section specifies the plant spacing of a narrow or wide linear planting for a mallee planting.
25 Mixed-species environmental plantings—narrow linear plant spacing
(1) This section specifies the plant spacing of a narrow linear planting for a mixed-species environmental planting.
(2) The distance between stems within a planting and between rows must be 6 metres or less.
(3) The distance between:
(4) The distance between the stems of trees or shrubs at the outermost edge of the planting must be at least 40 metres from the stems of another planting in the project area.
(5) The planting must not be affected by material competition from adjacent trees as determined by Division 9.
26 Mixed-species environmental plantings—wide linear plant spacing
must be greater than 20 metres and less than 40 metres.
(4) The distance between the stems of trees or shrubs at the outermost edge of the planting must be at least 40 metres from the stems of another planting in the project area.
(5) The planting must not be affected by material competition from adjacent trees as determined by Division 9.
27 Block planting—plant spacing
For the avoidance of doubt, spacing within and between block plantings must be in accordance with the CFI Mapping Guidelines.
Division 7—Domain group—stocking density
If a CEA is established using tube-stock:
29 Direct seeding—default values
If a CEA is established using direct seeding, stocking density is taken to be less than 500 stems per hectare.
30 Alternatives to default values
After 2 years from the planting date, a project proponent may choose to sample stocking density to ascertain measured values for relevant CEAs in accordance with sections 31 to 40.
31 Requirements for calibrations
(1) If a calibration in the FullCAM Guidelines requires a sample to determine stocking density, the stocking density sampling and estimation techniques set out in this Division are to be applied.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a project proponent is only required to estimate the stocking density once over the duration of the crediting period.
(3) If an event occurs that may change the stocking density such that the requirements for the calibration being used may no longer be met, then for the purpose of section 32, the project proponent must remeasure the stocking density in accordance with this Division.
(4) If a calibration in the FullCAM Guidelines does not require sampling to determine stocking density, then for that calibration:
32 Evidence of stocking density
If a calibration that requires measurement of stocking density is used in a CEA, the project proponent must be able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Regulator, that a planting in that area meets or exceeds the stocking density requirements for the calibration with information collected in accordance with this Division.
33 Estimating stocking density
(1) Stocking density for a CEA may be estimated by:
(2) If systematic random sampling is used to estimate stocking density, intended plot locations must be selected in accordance with section 36.
(3) The methods specified in subsection (1) may be undertaken by:
(4) To estimate stocking density by on-ground measurement:
(5) To estimate stocking density using date-stamped, geo-referenced, remotely-sensed imagery:
34 Number of plots and probable limits of error
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if a project proponent undertakes systematic random sampling in a CEA, the project proponent must establish and analyse a minimum of 10 plots in each CEA.
(2) The project proponent must establish and analyse an additional number of plots estimated to achieve a target probable limit of error at the P=0.05 level.
35 Determining values for stocking density
If the probable limit of error for stocking density at the P=0.05 level of significance is:
36 Establishing a grid overlay
(1) If a project proponent samples in accordance with section 33, a grid overlay must be established in accordance with this section.
(2) The grid must consist of square cells.
(3) There must be at least 10 grid intersects within each CEA being sampled.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), an anchor point for the grid must be established by:
Note: A project may require more than one grid anchor point to be established.
(5) The easting and northing coordinates referred to in subsection (4) must be from the latest version of the Map Grid of Australia or the latest version of any Australian standard that replaces the Map Grid of Australia.
(6) The orientation of one axis of the grid must be along an azimuth determined by randomly selecting a whole number angle within the range of zero and 89 degrees inclusive, where zero degrees is true north.
(7) Each grid intersect must be assigned a unique identifier.
(8) Actual plot locations must be located within 10 metres of each intended plot location.
(1) Plots must have:
(2) All plots in a CEA must have the same shape.
(3) In this section:
orthogonal area means the area in a horizontal plane, not a sloping plane. Any measurements of length (for example, the length of the side of a rectangular plot) must be the horizontal distance, not the slope distance.
38 Plot shapes—block plantings
(3) A circular plot must be established so that:
(4) A rectangular plot must be established so that the actual plot location is sited at the same relative position in each rectangular plot in the CEA.
(5) In this section:
relative position means the most north-westerly, north-easterly, south-easterly or south-westerly corner of a rectangular plot.
39 Plot shapes—linear plantings
(1) If the CEA contains a narrow or wide linear planting, the plots must be established in accordance with this section.
(2) The plots must have a rectangular shape.
(3) The centre line of the plot must:
(4) The centre line between the boundaries of the CEA must be used to measure the plot width.
(5) The distance between the two ends of the plot must be determined by:
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if a plot extends beyond the boundaries of a CEA, only trees and shrubs in the plot that are also within the CEA boundary are permitted to be counted.
Note: For plots that extend beyond a CEA’s boundary, only trees and shrubs within the CEA are counted, but for calculation purposes the area of the plot is taken to be the same as for other plots in that CEA.
(2) If the plot has been established in accordance with another CFI methodology determination, the rules pertaining to the treatment of a plot crossing the boundary of a CEA or equivalent under that CFI methodology determination may be applied to the treatment of the plot.
Division 8—Calculating stocking density
41 Calculating stocking density of a plot
The stocking density of a plot must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 1 |
where:
stocking density (in stems/ha) of the jth plot in the ith carbon estimation area. | |
total number of individual living trees and shrubs in the jth plot in the ith carbon estimation area. | |
plot area (in hectares). | |
ith carbon estimation area. | |
jth plot. |
42 Calculating average stocking density
The average stocking density of a carbon estimation area must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 2 |
where:
average stocking density (in stems/ha) for the ith carbon estimation area. | |
total number of plots in the ith carbon estimation area. | |
stocking density (in stems/ha) of the jth plot in the ith carbon estimation area—see Equation 1. | |
ith carbon estimation area. | |
jth plot. |
43 Calculating margin of error for stocking density
(1) The margin of error for the average stocking density of a CEA must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 3 |
where:
margin of error for the average stocking density (in stems/ha) for the ith carbon estimation area. | |
critical value of the t-distribution for a student’s t-test, using Mi -1 degrees of freedom at the P=0.05 level of significance. | |
standard deviation of average stocking density (z̄) for plots within the ith carbon estimation area. | |
total number of plots in the ith carbon estimation area. | |
ith carbon estimation area. |
(2) The standard deviation of the average stocking density for plots within the CEA must be calculated using the formula for sample standard deviation using Equation 4 as follows:
| Equation 4 |
where:
standard deviation of average stocking density (z̄) for plots within the ith carbon estimation area. | |
average of the stocking density zi j for j plots within the ith carbon estimation area. | |
stocking density (in stems/ha) of the jth plot in the ithcarbon estimation area. | |
total number of plots in the ith carbon estimation area. | |
ith carbon estimation area. | |
jth plot. |
44 Calculating probable limits of error for stocking density
The probable limit of error for the average stocking density of a CEA must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 5 |
where:
probable limits of error (PLE) for the average stocking density (z̄), at the P=0.05 level of significance for the ith carbon estimation area as a percentage. | |
margin of error for the average stocking density (in stems/ha) for the ith carbon estimation area—see Equation 3. | |
average stocking density (in stems/ha) for the ith carbon estimation area—see Equation 2. | |
ith carbon estimation area. |
45 Calculating conservative estimate of stocking density
The conservative estimate of the average stocking density of a CEA must be calculated as the lower confidence limit using the following formula:
Equation 6 |
where:
conservative estimate of the average stocking density (in stems/ha) within the ith carbon estimation area. | |
average stocking density (in stems/ha) for the ith carbon estimation area—see Equation 2. | |
critical value of the t-distribution for a student’s t-test, using n-1 degrees of freedom at the P=0.05 level of significance. | |
standard deviation of average stocking density (z̄) for plots within the ith carbon estimation area—see Equation 4. | |
total number of plots in the ith carbon estimation area. | |
ith carbon estimation area. |
Division 9—Narrow or wide linear plantings—competition from adjacent trees
46 Competition from adjacent trees
(1) A narrow or wide linear planting must not be subject to competition from adjacent trees if the competition has a material impact on sequestration in the planting.
(2) A project proponent must determine whether there is material competition from adjacent trees on a narrow or wide linear planting in accordance with this Division.
Note: The presence or absence of adjacent trees may be demonstrated using remotely-sensed imagery dated no earlier than 3 years prior to the planting date for the planting. A proponent is able to re-stratify in accordance with section 18, to define a CEA such that it is not subject to material competition from adjacent trees.
(3) In this Division:
grouped adjacent trees means a group of adjacent trees where all the stems in the group are less than 20 metres apart.
individual adjacent tree means an adjacent tree that is more than 20 metres from any other adjacent tree.
47 Determining material competition—individual adjacent trees only
(1) Subject to section 48, material competition from individual adjacent trees is taken to be occurring for a narrow or wide linear planting if, on average, there is more than one individual adjacent tree for:
48 Determining material competition—grouped adjacent trees
(1) The occurrence of material competition from grouped adjacent trees must be determined in accordance with this section.
Note: Material competition from grouped adjacent trees for a narrow or wide linear planting could occur where there is:
(a) a single occurrence of grouped adjacent trees;
(b) multiple occurrences of grouped adjacent trees; or
(c) either (a) or (b) in combination with individual adjacent trees.
If only individual adjacent trees are present in the adjoining area, the project proponent must determine if material competition is determined in accordance with section 47.
(2) The net length of impact of grouped adjacent trees is estimated in accordance with subsections (3) to (8).
(3) The distance between the outermost stems of each occurrence of grouped adjacent trees must be measured along the long axis of the planting.
(4) The length of impact of each clump must be determined by adding 30 metres to the distance determined in subsection (3).
(5) The length of impact of each occurrence of an individual adjacent tree is taken to be 30 metres.
(6) The gross length of impact of the adjacent trees is determined by adding together the distances specified in subsections (4) and (5) for all grouped and individual adjacent trees.
(7) If the planting is a narrow linear planting where:
then:
(8) The net length of impact must:
(9) If the net length of impact of adjacent trees is:
then the adjacent trees are taken to cause material competition for the planting.
Division 10—Restricted activities
Biomass must not be removed from a CEA except in accordance with section 50.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), biomass may be harvested:
Note: Thinning is restricted to the selective removal of trees for ecological purposes, including to maintain species diversity or ground cover (see the definition of thinning in section 5).
(2) Biomass described in subsection (1) must only be harvested if the harvesting will not negatively impact any of the following:
If grazing occurs in a CEA:
Note: Evidence may include date-stamped, geo-referenced, remotely-sensed imagery.
in which case a mixed-species calibration must be used (except where using that calibration is inconsistent with the FullCAM Guidelines).
(4) In this section:
ecological infill planting means the planting of any trees or shrubs within the bounds of a CEA:
establishment infill planting means the planting of any trees or shrubs within the bounds of a CEA:
infill planting means establishment infill planting or ecological infill planting.
Division 11—Newness and additionality
53 Requirement in lieu of newness requirement
(1) For the purposes of subparagraph 27(4A)(a)(ii) of the Act, the requirement in lieu of the newness requirement for a reforestation project is that the project has not begun to be implemented, with the exceptions set out in this section.
(2) Disregard the preparation of a reforestation management plan before a management action commences.
(3) Disregard site preparation, planting, and the leasing or purchasing of a tangible asset for the purposes of site preparation or planting, when undertaken:
(4) In this section:
section 22 application, in relation to an offsets project, means an application under section 22 of the Act for the declaration of the project as an eligible offsets project.
section 27 declaration, in relation to an eligible offsets project, means a declaration under section 27 of the Act that the project is an eligible offsets project.
section 29 application, in relation to an area of land, means an application made under regulations or legislative rules made for the purposes of section 29 of the Act to vary the section 27 declaration in relation to a project in relation to the area.
site preparation means any action taken to prepare land for planting, including ripping, tilling, scalping, windrow and burn, fertilisation, weed control, mounding and fencing.
Division 12—Reforestation management plan
54 Requirements for a reforestation management plan
(1) For each reforestation project, the project proponent must create and maintain a reforestation management plan.
(2) A reforestation management plan must accompany a relevant application made under the Act.
Note: Sections 73 and 74 also require a reforestation management plan to be included in the first offsets reports and, if there are changes to the plan, in subsequent offsets reports.
(3) The reforestation management plan is a document that sets out the following for each area of land that is intended to be established, or has been established, as a CEA, as at a specified date and only if available at that date:
(4) In this section, relevant application means:
55 Updating a reforestation management plan
If any information of the kind set out in subsection 54(3) is included in a reforestation management plan and becomes out of date or incorrect, the reforestation management plan must be updated as soon as practicable so that it remains up-to-date and correct.
For paragraph 106(1)(c) of the Act, this Part specifies the method for working out the net abatement amount for a reporting period for a reforestation project that is an eligible offsets project.
Note: In this determination, this is called the net abatement amount for the project for the reporting period (see section 5).
The net abatement amount is taken to be the change in total carbon stock for all of the CEAs within all project areas when compared to the baseline, less the project emissions.
58 Gases to be taken into account
When making calculations under this Part:
(1) The baseline for a reforestation project in relation to a reporting period is the carbon stock that the CEAs for the project would have had in the absence of the project if the land use and management had continued as they were during the baseline period for the project; and
(2) The baseline amount is taken to be zero and is not recalculated during the project.
FullCAM must be used to model the following parameters for each CEA in accordance with the FullCAM Guidelines:
61 Modelling scenarios in FullCAM
(2) Each scenario simulation must be created and run as a FullCAM simulation in accordance with this Division and the FullCAM Guidelines.
Note: The FullCAM Guidelines set out how a management action or disturbance event is to be modelled in terms of FullCAM events.
(3) Each simulation must be created and run in the 90-day period before an offsets report is submitted to the Regulator.
The project simulation for a CEA in a reporting period is a FullCAM simulation that:
Division 3— Calculation of carbon stock change
63 Calculating initial carbon stock for project area
(1) The initial carbon stock for a project area must be calculated in accordance with this section.
(2) The initial carbon stock for a project area is:
equal to the initial carbon stock for the project area calculated in accordance with subsection (3); and
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), the initial carbon stock for the project area must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 7 |
where:
initial carbon stock for the project area (in tonnes CO2-e). | |
initial carbon stock for the ith carbon estimation area at the relevant declaration date, D (in tonnes C)—see Equation 9. | |
total number of carbon estimation areas in the project area at the relevant declaration date D. | |
ith carbon estimation area. |
64 Calculating project area carbon stock at end of reporting period
For each reporting period, the carbon stock for the project area is the sum of the carbon stock in each CEA and must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 8 |
where:
carbon stock for the project area at the end of a reporting period (in tonnes CO2-e). | |
carbon stock for the ith carbon estimation area at the end of the current reporting period (in tonnes C)—see Equation 10. | |
total number of carbon estimation areas in the project area at the end of the current reporting period. | |
ith carbon estimation area. |
65 Calculating carbon stock for CEA
(1) The initial carbon stock for a CEA must be calculated as the sum of FullCAM outputs for carbon in the tree and debris pools determined in accordance with Division 2, and must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 9 |
where:
initial carbon stock for the ith carbon estimation area at the declaration date, D (in tonnes C). | |
initial carbon stock in debris for the ith carbon estimation area determined using FullCAM at the declaration date D (in tonnes C per hectare). | |
initial carbon stock in trees for the ith carbon estimation area determined using FullCAM at the declaration date D (in tonnes C per hectare). | |
area of the ith carbon estimation area (in hectares). | |
ith carbon estimation area. |
(2) For each reporting period, the carbon stock for a CEA must be calculated as the sum of FullCAM outputs for carbon in the tree and debris pools determined in accordance with Division 2, and must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 10 |
where:
carbon stock for the ith carbon estimation area at the end of the current reporting period (in tonnes C). | |
carbon stock in debris for the ith carbon estimation area determined using FullCAM for the final month of the reporting period (in tonnes C per hectare). | |
carbon stock in trees for the ith carbon estimation area determined using FullCAM for the final month of the reporting period (in tonnes C per hectare). | |
area of the ith carbon estimation area (in hectares). | |
ith carbon estimation area. |
Division 4—Calculation of project area emissions
66 Calculating emissions from biomass burning
(1) For each reporting period, emissions of methane (CH4) for the project area due to biomass burning in the reporting period must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 11 |
where:
emissions of CH4 from biomass burning for the project area for a reporting period (in tonnes CO2-e). | |
mass of CH4 emitted during the reporting period due to biomass burning in the ith carbon estimation area determined using FullCAM (in tonnes per hectare). | |
area burnt in the ith carbon estimation area during the reporting period (in hectares). | |
global warming potential of methane as specified in the NGER Regulations. | |
total number of carbon estimation areas within the project area at the end of the reporting period. | |
ith carbon estimation area. |
(2) For each reporting period, emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) for the project area due to biomass burning in the reporting period must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 12 |
where:
emissions of N2O from biomass burning for the project area for the reporting period (in tonnes CO2-e). | |
mass of N2O emitted during the reporting period due to biomass burning in the ith carbon estimation area determined using FullCAM (in kilograms per hectare). | |
area burnt in the ith carbon estimation area during the reporting period (in hectares). | |
global warming potential of nitrous oxide as specified in the NGER Regulations. | |
total number of carbon estimation areas within the project area at the end of the reporting period. |
(3) For each reporting period, total emissions for the project area due to biomass burning in the reporting period must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 13 |
where:
total emissions from biomass burning for the project area for the reporting period (in tonnes CO2-e). | |
emissions of CH4 from biomass burning for the project area for the reporting period (in tonnes CO2-e)—see Equation 11. | |
emissions of N2O from biomass burning for the project area for the reporting period (in tonnes CO2-e)—see Equation 12. |
67 Calculating emissions from fuel use
(1) For each reporting period, emissions from fuel use for the project area must be calculated:
(2) For each reporting period, the fuel emissions for each fuel type and each greenhouse gas type (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane) for the reporting period for the project area must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 14 |
where:
fuel emissions for fuel type f and greenhouse gas k for the reporting period for the project area (in tonnes CO2-e). | |
quantity of fuel type f combusted within the reporting period for the project area (in kilolitres). | |
energy content factor of fuel type f, as prescribed in Schedule 1 of the NGER Measurement Determination (in gigajoules per kilolitre). | |
emission factor for gas type k for fuel type f as prescribed in Schedule 1 to the NGER Measurement Determination (in kilograms CO2‑e per gigajoule). | |
fuel type. | |
type of greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide) emitted for a given fuel type. |
Note: The relevant energy content and emission factors are included, with worked examples, in the National Greenhouse Accounts Factors available via the Department’s website. If is measured in gigajoules, then = 1.
(3) For each reporting period, total emissions from fuel use in the reporting period for the project area must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 15 |
where:
total fuel emissions for the project area (in tonnes CO2-e). | |
fuel emissions for each fuel type f and each greenhouse gas k (in tonnes CO2-e) for the reporting period for the project area—see Equation 14. | |
number of different types of fuel. | |
number of different types of greenhouse gas emitted for a given fuel type. | |
fuel type. | |
type of greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide) emitted for a given fuel type. |
Division 5—Calculation of the net abatement amount
68 Calculating the net abatement amount for a project
(1) The net abatement amount for the reporting period for a reforestation project is equal to the sum of the amounts A calculated in accordance with subsection (2) for each project area.
(2) For each reporting period, the net abatement amount for a project area of a reforestation project must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 16 |
where:
Project area net abatement for the reporting period (in tonnes CO2‑e). | |
carbon stock for the project area (in tonnes CO2-e)—see Equation 8. | |
total project emissions from biomass burning for the project area (in tonnes of CO2-e )—see Equation 13. | |
total project fuel emissions for the project area (in tonnes CO2-e) —see Equation 15. | |
(a) for the first reporting period in which the project area has been reported on—the initial carbon stock for the project area (in tonnes CO2-e) (see subsections 63(2) and (3)); and (b) for a later reporting period—the carbon stock for the project area at the end of the previous reporting period (in tonnes CO2-e) (see the carbon stock value reported in the previous offsets report). |
(3) In this section:
previous offsets report means the most recent report for the project area submitted under this or another CFI methodology determination applicable for a reforestation project and for which a certificate of entitlement has been issued.
Part 5—Monitoring, record-keeping and reporting requirements
For the purposes of subsection 106(3) of the Act, a project proponent of a reforestation project that is an eligible offsets project must comply with the monitoring, record‑keeping and reporting requirements in this Part.
70 Geospatial information requirements
Where this Part requires geospatial information to be created, monitored or reported, a geographic information system that meets the requirements of the CFI Mapping Guidelines must be used in accordance with the CFI Mapping Guidelines to create, monitor or report that information.
Division 2—Monitoring requirements
(1) A project proponent must monitor the reforestation project to:
(2) A project proponent may use on-ground observation and/or remotely-sensed imagery in order to:
Division 3—Record-keeping requirements
A project proponent must create and maintain the following records:
Note: Records referred to in paragraph (h) could include invoices, vehicle logbooks, records of project activities, or reports of calculated consumption based on hourly or per hectare consumption rates.
If these fuel use records for project activities cannot be disaggregated from records for other non-project activities, estimates of project fuel use may be based on the time spent undertaking project activities and the known average fuel consumption of vehicles or machinery.
Division 4—Offsets report requirements
73 Information in first offsets report
A project proponent must include the following information in the first offsets report for each project area:
Note: Section 32 specifies the circumstances where evidence of stocking density is required.
Note: If the project proponent has previously submitted an offsets report for the project under another CFI methodology determination, then the first offsets report for the project is taken to have been submitted under that CFI methodology determination.
74 Information in subsequent offsets report
The following information must be included in the second and subsequent offsets reports for each project area:
Note: Evidence of the information specified in paragraph (i) may include date-stamped, geo-referenced, remotely-sensed imagery.
Division 5—Reporting under section 77A of the Act
75 No division of project area
For the purposes of subsection 77A(2) of the Act, the division of the overall reforestation project must not result in the division of a project area.
Schedule 1—Gases accounted for in calculations
Carbon pool | Greenhouse gas |
Live above-ground biomass | Carbon dioxide (CO2) |
Live below-ground biomass | Carbon dioxide (CO2) |
Debris | Carbon dioxide (CO2) |
Emission source | Greenhouse gas |
Fuel use | Methane (CH4) Nitrous oxide (N2O) Carbon dioxide (CO2) |
Fire—planned and unplanned | Methane (CH4) Nitrous oxide (N2O) |