Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Using Measurement and Models) Methodology Determination 2021
Sch 1Measurement-only approach to estimating soil organic carbon sequestration
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Schedule 1—Measurement-only approach to estimating soil organic carbon sequestration
This Schedule provides for the calculation of the change in soil organic carbon between reporting periods for a CEA of a soil carbon project which is an eligible offsets project, using a measurement-only approach.
To determine this amount using a measurement-only approach, in tonnes of carbon:
samples of soil need to be collected and analysed consistent with the requirements of Division 2 of this Schedule and the Supplement;
the soil organic carbon stock and sampling variance in a CEA needs to be calculated in accordance with Division 4 of this Schedule;
the change in soil organic carbon stock for a reporting period needs to be calculated in accordance with Division 5 of this Schedule;
In accordance with Divisions 2 and 3 of this Schedule, the sampling, analysis and calculations of this Schedule need to be done separately for the upper soil layer (first 30 centimetres) and the entire soil profile (0-x centimetres). Data on the upper soil layer is included in offsets reporting to help Australia report its removals of greenhouse gases in its National Inventory Report.
A project proponent who uses this Schedule to calculate the amount of change in soil organic carbon for a CEA in a project area of a project for a reporting period, can change at any time to using the hybrid approach set out in Schedule 2 to calculate that amount for the CEA for a subsequent reporting period.
However, if the hybrid approach is used to calculate that amount for a CEA of a project for a reporting period, then the measurement-only approach in this Schedule cannot be used to calculate that amount for the CEA for any subsequent reporting period. However, this still allows the measurement-based approach under Schedule 2 to be used.
In this Schedule:
0–30 cm layer of soil, means the soil layer measured from the soil surface to a soil depth of 30 centimetres.
0–x cm layer of soil, means the soil layer measured from the soil surface to a soil depth greater than 30 centimetres referred to as x.
30–x cm layer of soil, means the soil layer measured from the lower end of the 0-30 cm layer of the soil to the lower end of the 0-x cm layer of the soil.
composite sample—see section 3(1)(b) of this Schedule.
ESM—see section 12 of this Schedule.
fine earth means soil material having a particle size ≤ 2 mm.
gravel means soil material having a particle size > 2 mm.
layer means a 0-30 cm layer, 30-x cm layer or a 0-x cm layer.
sample—see section 3 of this Schedule.
sub-layer means a depth of soil within a layer that is less than the layer.
Note: The 0-30 cm and 30-x cm layers of a sample will be sublayers of the 0-x cm layer of the sample.
whole soil means all material contained within a soil layer including gravel and fine earth.
3 What is a sample?
(1) In this Schedule a sample may be:
(a) an individual sample taken from a particular location; or
(b) a composite sample (composite sample) which combines samples taken from a number of locations into a single sample consistent with any requirements in the Supplement.
(2) A sample must be obtained and analysed consistent with the requirements in Division 2 of this Schedule.
Division 2—Operation of a soil carbon project using a measurement-only approach under this Schedule
4 Steps involved in accounting for a soil carbon project
(1) For each area of land included as part of a project area for a soil carbon project:
(a) the land must be mapped according to section 5 of this Schedule; and
(b) a baseline sampling round must be conducted for each CEA:
(i) if the land is included in the project area when the section 27 declaration of the project is made—before the end of the first reporting period for the project; or
(ii) if the land is included in the project area as the result of a section 29 application for the project—before the end of the first reporting period for the project during which the land is included in the project area; and
(c) at least one subsequent sampling round must occur not later than every 5 years after the previous sampling round for each CEA for the duration of the crediting period for the project.
Note: Sampling is not conducted on exclusion areas or emissions accounting areas.
(2) A subsequent sampling round is not required to be conducted for a CEA of a transferring project during the reporting period for which the project proponent may submit a transitional offsets report for the project.
(3) In this section, transitional offsets report means a transitional offsets report under section 68A of the CFI Rule.
(4) For each sampling round conducted for a CEA, the CEA must be divided into strata consistent with any requirements in the Supplement.
(5) For each reporting period for the project, all CEAs that have completed subsequent sampling rounds must be included in the net abatement calculations.
(6) Unless the Regulator agrees in writing that exceptional circumstances exist, a sampling round must meet any timing requirements specified in the Supplement.
Note: Exceptional circumstances may include poor weather conditions that inhibit site access or where the soil moisture is unsuitable for sampling at the planned time.
5 Carbon estimation areas (CEAs), exclusion areas and emissions accounting areas
(1) The project proponent must map land within a project area for the project into one or more carbon estimation areas (CEAs) such that:
(a) all the land in each CEA:
(i) is eligible land; and
(ii) is subject to the carrying out or maintenance of at least one eligible management activity until the end of the permanence obligation period for the project; and
(iii) is within a single State or Territory; and
(iv) has identical responsible landholders; and
(b) if the project was declared as an eligible offsets project after 1 September 2020—the mapping is completed, and provided to the Regulator as required by the Supplement, prior to each baseline sampling round for each CEA.
(2) The project proponent may map non-contiguous parts of a project area as a single CEA, where the furthest boundaries of non-contiguous areas do not exceed 10 kilometres in distance from each other within a singular CEA.
(3) The boundaries of a CEA may be revised only to merge and split existing CEAs in accordance with requirements in the Supplement.
Note: If the boundaries of a CEA are revised, baseline emissions and baseline soil organic carbon stocks may need to be recalculated.
(4) The project proponent must not remove project areas which would remove part of a CEA, unless such removal is provided for in, and meets the requirements of, the Supplement.
(5) The project proponent may map other land within the project area for the project into one or more exclusion areas such that:
(a) no land management or agricultural activities are to be conducted in the area; and
(b) none of the land is included in a CEA.
Note: Exclusion areas would generally be dwellings, roads, dams or other infrastructure.
(6) Any part of the project area which is neither a CEA nor an exclusion area is an emissions accounting area.
Note: The soil organic carbon stock change of an emissions accounting area is not included in the net abatement amount, but emissions from these areas are included in the net abatement amount calculations. Emissions accounting areas are likely to include agricultural land which is not suitable or conducive to sampling (such as rocky outcrops) and densely forested land where land management activities are not applied.
(7) Subsections (8), (9) and (10) apply to a CEA that:
(b) includes land that is not eligible, or has ceased to be eligible, because it does not satisfy paragraph 9(1)(b) of this determination (dwelling or structures); and
(c) has not been removed from the project area of the project.
(8) Despite subparagraph (1)(a)(i), ineligible land may remain in a CEA if:
(a) less than the smaller of 1% or 5 hectares of the area of the CEA is covered by dwellings or other structures; or
(b) the Regulator determines, in accordance with subsection (10), that the land can continue to remain in the CEA.
Note: CEAs must not contain dwelling or structures at the time of stratification, however land may remain in the CEA if dwellings or other structures are constructed on it after stratification in accordance with this subsection.
(9) If subsection (8) does not apply, land in CEAs that is ineligible land must be removed from the project area.
(10) The Regulator may determine that land can continue to be mapped as a CEA if:
(a) the Regulator has consulted with the project proponent about making such a determination; and
(b) the continued mapping of the CEA is unlikely to result in the crediting of non-genuine carbon abatement; and
(c) the Regulator considers that the continued mapping of the CEA is appropriate, having regard to all the circumstances.
(11) Subsection (12) applies to a CEA that:
(b) includes land that is not eligible, or has ceased to be eligible, because it does not satisfy paragraph 9(2)(a) of this determination.
(12) The project proponent must remove the CEA from the project area.
(13) The mapping of each CEA, exclusion area or emissions accounting area must be done in accordance with the Supplement.
6 Sampling design
(1) Each sampling round must involve, consistent with any requirements in the Supplement:
(a) the division of each CEA into at least three strata; and
(b) taking at least three samples in each stratum.
(2) The sampling design must meet any requirements included in the Supplement.
(3) For each sampling round, the project proponent must submit to the Regulator, prior to undertaking any sampling, a sampling plan for each CEA meeting any requirements included in the Supplement.
7 Sampling
(1) The nominated soil depth for a CEA:
(a) must be 30 centimetres; and
(b) must be greater than 30 centimetres where required by subsection 9(2)(b) of this Schedule or the Supplement; and
(c) may be greater than 30 centimetres where this meets any requirements in the Supplement
(d) must be consistent across the CEA.
(2) The sampling undertaken must:
(a) aim to achieve:
(i) for a sampling round after the baseline sampling round, the equivalent soil mass for the CEA as used for the previous sampling round; and
(ii) the depth of soil disturbed by management activities (consistent with paragraph 9(2)(b)(i) of this Schedule) plus 10 centimetres; and
(iii) depths consistent with the requirements in the Supplement; and
Note: Bedrock or impenetrable layers may prevent a sample from achieving its nominated soil depth.
(b) if the sampling undertaken achieves a depth greater than 30 centimetres—obtain and analyse separate information for the 0–30 cm layer of the soil and the soil at depth greater than 30 centimetres (which may include sub-layer analysis); and
(c) be undertaken by an independent person who:
(i) has experience in the collection of soil samples; and
(ii) has a good understanding of the sampling requirements of this determination and the Supplement; and
(iii) has no financial interest in the soil carbon project; and
(iv) did not prepare or review the land management strategy for the project; and
(v) meets any requirements included in the Supplement; and
Note 1: Being paid to undertake the sampling would not involve a breach of subparagraph (iii).
Note 2: See also the requirement in paragraph 32(1)(k) for the offsets report to include a written statement from the independent person.
(d) take into account any recommendations in the Supplement; and
(e) meet any requirements included in the Supplement.
Schedule Sch 1 - Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Estimation of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Using Measurement and Models) Methodology Determination 2021 - Measurement-only approach to estimating soil organic carbon sequestration | Zoe