Part 1
Preliminary
Part 1 Preliminary
1.1 Name of determination 7
1.2 Commencement 7
1.3 Definitions 7
1.4 Type of project to which this Determination applies 13
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This methodology lets landholders earn Australian carbon credit units by planting trees on land that was non‑forested or cleared for at least five years before the project. It requires statistically robust, stratified measurement of tree carbon (via inventories or permanent plots and validated allometric models), accounting for project emissions, and detailed reporting — ensuring credits reflect real, measurable carbon storage and who qualifies to be paid.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation and Afforestation) Methodology Determination 2013.
Part 1 Preliminary
1.1 Name of determination 7
1.2 Commencement 7
1.3 Definitions 7
1.4 Type of project to which this Determination applies 13
Part 2 Requirements for declaration as eligible project
2.1 Eligible projects 14
2.2 Project mechanisms 14
2.3 Land with abatement potential 14
2.4 Identification of project area 14
Part 3 Delineating boundaries
3.1 Delineation of project area 15
3.2 Delineating stratum boundaries 15
3.3 Division of project area into strata 16
3.4 Requirements for a stratum 17
3.5 Growth disturbances and revision of strata 17
3.6 Requirements for revisions of strata boundaries 18
Part 4 Operation of the project
4.1 Removal of trees 20
4.2 Prescribed burns 20
4.3 Restrictions relating to fertiliser use 21
Part 5 Methods for estimating net project abatement
Division 5.1 Estimating project removals
Subdivision 5.1.1 General
5.1 General 22
Subdivision 5.1.2 Conducting a full inventory
5.2 Conducting a full inventory 22
Subdivision 5.1.3 Sampling plans
5.3 Developing and documenting a sampling plan 23
5.4 Sampling plan information for full inventory and PSP assessment 24
5.5 Sampling plan information for stratum specific functions 25
5.6 Sampling plan information for regional functions 25
Subdivision 5.1.4 Location of plots
5.7 Determining the location of plots 26
Subdivision 5.1.5 Establishing and assessing plots
5.8 Establishing and assessing plots during full inventory 28
5.9 Target probable limit of error – full inventory 28
5.10 Establishing plots 28
5.11 Plot configuration 29
5.12 Plot size 30
5.13 Identifying and marking plots 30
5.14 Plot visits during full inventory 30
5.15 Collection of information during plot visits 31
5.16 Ex post analysis of plots 32
Subdivision 5.1.6 PSP assessments
5.17 Conducting PSP assessments 32
5.18 General requirements for PSP assessments 32
5.19 Ex post analysis of PSPs 33
Subdivision 5.1.7 Plots located close to stratum boundaries
5.20 Dealing with plots located close to stratum boundaries 33
5.21 Edge plots 34
5.22 Plot carbon stocks 34
Subdivision 5.1.8 Allometric functions
5.23 Applying species specific allometric functions 34
5.24 Allometric domain 35
5.25 Regression fitting 35
5.26 Minimum data requirements 36
5.27 Minimum regression fit requirements 36
5.28 Variance of weighted residuals 37
5.29 Allometric report 37
Subdivision 5.1.9 Allometric functions for live trees
5.30 Developing allometric functions for live trees 38
5.31 Developing stratum specific functions 39
5.32 Updating pre-existing stratum specific functions 40
5.33 Regional functions 41
5.34 Converting a stratum specific function to a regional function 42
Subdivision 5.1.10 Assessing biomass sample trees
5.35 Assessing above-ground biomass of biomass sample trees 42
5.36 Assessing root biomass of biomass sample trees 43
5.37 Assessing biomass of entire biomass sample tree 45
5.38 Record keeping and reporting 45
Subdivision 5.1.11 Allometric functions for other trees
5.39 Developing allometric functions for trees other than live trees 45
Subdivision 5.1.12 Applicability of allometric functions
5.40 Testing the applicability of allometric functions 46
5.41 Compatibility checks 46
5.42 Validation test 46
5.43 Reporting requirements 48
Subdivision 5.1.13 Assessing carbon stocks in fallen dead wood and litter
5.44 Assessing carbon stocks in litter 49
5.45 Assessing carbon stocks in fallen dead wood 50
Division 5.2 Calculating project emissions
5.46 Calculating fuel emissions from project activities 51
5.47 Calculating fire emissions from a stratum 51
Part 6 Calculating the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for a project in relation to a reporting period
Division 6.1 Preliminary
6.1 General 52
6.2 Greenhouse gas assessment boundary 52
6.3 Calculating the baseline for the project 53
6.4 Requirements for calculating carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement 53
Division 6.2 Calculations
Subdivision 6.2.1 Calculating carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount
6.5 General 55
6.6 Calculating the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount 55
6.7 Calculating uncertainty for net abatement amount 55
6.8 Calculating standard error for net abatement amount 56
6.9 Calculating degrees of freedom for net abatement amount 57
Subdivision 6.2.2 Calculating carbon stock change
6.10 Calculating carbon stock change for a project 57
6.11 Calculating carbon stock change for a stratum 58
Subdivision 6.2.3 Calculating initial carbon stocks for a stratum
6.12 Calculating initial carbon stocks for a stratum 61
Subdivision 6.2.4 Calculating closing carbon stocks for a stratum
6.13 Calculating closing carbon stocks for a stratum based on full inventory 62
6.14 Calculating closing carbon stocks for a stratum based on PSP assessment 63
Subdivision 6.2.5 Calculating lower confidence bound
6.15 Calculating the lower confidence bound for closing carbon stocks for a stratum 66
6.16 Calculating the lower confidence bound for mean ratio of change in PSP carbon stocks 66
Subdivision 6.2.6 Calculating mean ratio of change in PSP carbon stocks
6.17 Calculating the mean ratio of change in PSP carbon stocks 67
6.18 Calculating the ratio of change in PSP carbon stocks 68
Subdivision 6.2.7 Calculating mean plot carbon stocks for a stratum
6.19 Calculating mean plot carbon stocks for a stratum 69
Subdivision 6.2.8 Calculating carbon stocks in a plot
6.20 Calculating carbon stocks within a plot assessed as part of full inventory 70
6.21 Calculating carbon stocks within a PSP assessed as part of PSP assessment 71
Subdivision 6.2.9 Calculating carbon stocks in trees, fallen dead wood, and litter
6.22 Calculating carbon stocks in live trees within a plot 72
6.23 Calculating carbon stocks in live fire affected trees within a plot 72
6.24 Calculating carbon stocks in dead standing trees within a plot 73
6.25 Calculating carbon stocks in dead standing fire affected trees within a plot 73
6.26 Calculating carbon stocks in litter within a plot 74
6.27 Calculating carbon stocks in fallen dead wood within a plot 74
Subdivision 6.2.10 Calculating biomass in trees
6.28 Calculating biomass in live trees within a plot 75
6.29 Calculating biomass in live fire affected trees within a plot 75
6.30 Calculating biomass in dead standing trees within a plot 76
6.31 Calculating biomass in dead standing fire affected trees within a plot 76
Subdivision 6.2.11 Calculating project emissions
6.32 Calculating project emissions 77
6.33 Calculating fuel emissions for a stratum 78
6.34 Calculating emissions for fossil fuel types 79
Subdivision 6.2.12 Calculating emissions for fire affected stratum
6.35 Calculating emissions for a fire affected stratum 79
6.36 Calculating the standard error for fire emissions 81
Subdivision 6.2.13 Calculating probable limit of error
6.37 Calculating probable limit of error for carbon stock estimates 83
6.38 Calculating number of plots required for probable limit of error 84
Subdivision 6.2.14 Calculating biomass for biomass sample trees and test trees
6.39 Calculating total biomass for biomass sample trees and test trees 85
6.40 Calculating the dry weight of biomass components for biomass sample trees and test trees 85
6.41 Calculating the variance of weighted residuals for biomass sample trees and test trees 86
6.42 Calculating the F-test statistic 87
Subdivision 6.2.15 Data collection
6.43 Project emissions 89
6.44 Project removals 89
Part 7 Monitoring, record-keeping and reporting requirements
Division 7.1 General
7.1 Application 90
Division 7.2 Monitoring requirements
7.2 Project monitoring 90
Division 7.3 Offsets report requirements
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
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Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation and Afforestation) Methodology Determination 2013 1
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011
I, MARK DREYFUS, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, make this Methodology Determination under subsection 106 (1) of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
Dated 29 January 2013
MARK DREYFUS
Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Contents
Part 1 Preliminary
1.1 Name of determination 7
1.2 Commencement 7
1.3 Definitions 7
1.4 Type of project to which this Determination applies 13
Part 2 Requirements for declaration as eligible project
2.1 Eligible projects 14
2.2 Project mechanisms 14
2.3 Land with abatement potential 14
2.4 Identification of project area 14
Part 3 Delineating boundaries
3.1 Delineation of project area 15
3.2 Delineating stratum boundaries 15
3.3 Division of project area into strata 16
3.4 Requirements for a stratum 17
3.5 Growth disturbances and revision of strata 17
3.6 Requirements for revisions of strata boundaries 18
Part 4 Operation of the project
4.1 Removal of trees 20
4.2 Prescribed burns 20
4.3 Restrictions relating to fertiliser use 21
Part 5 Methods for estimating net project abatement
Division 5.1 Estimating project removals
Subdivision 5.1.1 General
5.1 General 22
Subdivision 5.1.2 Conducting a full inventory
5.2 Conducting a full inventory 22
Subdivision 5.1.3 Sampling plans
5.3 Developing and documenting a sampling plan 23
5.4 Sampling plan information for full inventory and PSP assessment 24
5.5 Sampling plan information for stratum specific functions 25
5.6 Sampling plan information for regional functions 25
Subdivision 5.1.4 Location of plots
5.7 Determining the location of plots 26
Subdivision 5.1.5 Establishing and assessing plots
5.8 Establishing and assessing plots during full inventory 28
5.9 Target probable limit of error – full inventory 28
5.10 Establishing plots 28
5.11 Plot configuration 29
5.12 Plot size 30
5.13 Identifying and marking plots 30
5.14 Plot visits during full inventory 30
5.15 Collection of information during plot visits 31
5.16 Ex post analysis of plots 32
Subdivision 5.1.6 PSP assessments
5.17 Conducting PSP assessments 32
5.18 General requirements for PSP assessments 32
5.19 Ex post analysis of PSPs 33
Subdivision 5.1.7 Plots located close to stratum boundaries
5.20 Dealing with plots located close to stratum boundaries 33
5.21 Edge plots 34
5.22 Plot carbon stocks 34
Subdivision 5.1.8 Allometric functions
5.23 Applying species specific allometric functions 34
5.24 Allometric domain 35
5.25 Regression fitting 35
5.26 Minimum data requirements 36
5.27 Minimum regression fit requirements 36
5.28 Variance of weighted residuals 37
5.29 Allometric report 37
Subdivision 5.1.9 Allometric functions for live trees
5.30 Developing allometric functions for live trees 38
5.31 Developing stratum specific functions 39
5.32 Updating pre-existing stratum specific functions 40
5.33 Regional functions 41
5.34 Converting a stratum specific function to a regional function 42
Subdivision 5.1.10 Assessing biomass sample trees
5.35 Assessing above-ground biomass of biomass sample trees 42
5.36 Assessing root biomass of biomass sample trees 43
5.37 Assessing biomass of entire biomass sample tree 45
5.38 Record keeping and reporting 45
Subdivision 5.1.11 Allometric functions for other trees
5.39 Developing allometric functions for trees other than live trees 45
Subdivision 5.1.12 Applicability of allometric functions
5.40 Testing the applicability of allometric functions 46
5.41 Compatibility checks 46
5.42 Validation test 46
5.43 Reporting requirements 48
Subdivision 5.1.13 Assessing carbon stocks in fallen dead wood and litter
5.44 Assessing carbon stocks in litter 49
5.45 Assessing carbon stocks in fallen dead wood 50
Division 5.2 Calculating project emissions
5.46 Calculating fuel emissions from project activities 51
5.47 Calculating fire emissions from a stratum 51
Part 6 Calculating the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for a project in relation to a reporting period
Division 6.1 Preliminary
6.1 General 52
6.2 Greenhouse gas assessment boundary 52
6.3 Calculating the baseline for the project 53
6.4 Requirements for calculating carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement 53
Division 6.2 Calculations
Subdivision 6.2.1 Calculating carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount
6.5 General 55
6.6 Calculating the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount 55
6.7 Calculating uncertainty for net abatement amount 55
6.8 Calculating standard error for net abatement amount 56
6.9 Calculating degrees of freedom for net abatement amount 57
Subdivision 6.2.2 Calculating carbon stock change
6.10 Calculating carbon stock change for a project 57
6.11 Calculating carbon stock change for a stratum 58
Subdivision 6.2.3 Calculating initial carbon stocks for a stratum
6.12 Calculating initial carbon stocks for a stratum 61
Subdivision 6.2.4 Calculating closing carbon stocks for a stratum
6.13 Calculating closing carbon stocks for a stratum based on full inventory 62
6.14 Calculating closing carbon stocks for a stratum based on PSP assessment 63
Subdivision 6.2.5 Calculating lower confidence bound
6.15 Calculating the lower confidence bound for closing carbon stocks for a stratum 66
6.16 Calculating the lower confidence bound for mean ratio of change in PSP carbon stocks 66
Subdivision 6.2.6 Calculating mean ratio of change in PSP carbon stocks
6.17 Calculating the mean ratio of change in PSP carbon stocks 67
6.18 Calculating the ratio of change in PSP carbon stocks 68
Subdivision 6.2.7 Calculating mean plot carbon stocks for a stratum
6.19 Calculating mean plot carbon stocks for a stratum 69
Subdivision 6.2.8 Calculating carbon stocks in a plot
6.20 Calculating carbon stocks within a plot assessed as part of full inventory 70
6.21 Calculating carbon stocks within a PSP assessed as part of PSP assessment 71
Subdivision 6.2.9 Calculating carbon stocks in trees, fallen dead wood, and litter
6.22 Calculating carbon stocks in live trees within a plot 72
6.23 Calculating carbon stocks in live fire affected trees within a plot 72
6.24 Calculating carbon stocks in dead standing trees within a plot 73
6.25 Calculating carbon stocks in dead standing fire affected trees within a plot 73
6.26 Calculating carbon stocks in litter within a plot 74
6.27 Calculating carbon stocks in fallen dead wood within a plot 74
Subdivision 6.2.10 Calculating biomass in trees
6.28 Calculating biomass in live trees within a plot 75
6.29 Calculating biomass in live fire affected trees within a plot 75
6.30 Calculating biomass in dead standing trees within a plot 76
6.31 Calculating biomass in dead standing fire affected trees within a plot 76
Subdivision 6.2.11 Calculating project emissions
6.32 Calculating project emissions 77
6.33 Calculating fuel emissions for a stratum 78
6.34 Calculating emissions for fossil fuel types 79
Subdivision 6.2.12 Calculating emissions for fire affected stratum
6.35 Calculating emissions for a fire affected stratum 79
6.36 Calculating the standard error for fire emissions 81
Subdivision 6.2.13 Calculating probable limit of error
6.37 Calculating probable limit of error for carbon stock estimates 83
6.38 Calculating number of plots required for probable limit of error 84
Subdivision 6.2.14 Calculating biomass for biomass sample trees and test trees
6.39 Calculating total biomass for biomass sample trees and test trees 85
6.40 Calculating the dry weight of biomass components for biomass sample trees and test trees 85
6.41 Calculating the variance of weighted residuals for biomass sample trees and test trees 86
6.42 Calculating the F-test statistic 87
Subdivision 6.2.15 Data collection
6.43 Project emissions 89
6.44 Project removals 89
Part 7 Monitoring, record-keeping and reporting requirements
Division 7.1 General
7.1 Application 90
Division 7.2 Monitoring requirements
7.2 Project monitoring 90
Division 7.3 Offsets report requirements
Subdivision 7.3.1 Information that must be included in the first offsets report
7.3 General 91
7.4 Project information 91
7.5 Stratum description and status 91
7.6 Baseline land use history and forest cover history for strata 92
7.7 Quality assurance and control 92
Subdivision 7.3.2 Information that must be included in all offsets reports
7.8 General 93
7.9 Project information 93
7.10 Strata location and area 93
7.11 Stratum description and status 94
7.12 Carbon stocks for stratum 94
7.13 Carbon stocks for plots 95
7.14 Basis of allometric function applied to a stratum 96
7.15 Application of allometric functions 96
7.16 Sampling plans 96
7.17 Growth disturbance events 96
7.18 Quality assurance and control 97
7.19 Fuel use 97
Division 7.4 Record-keeping requirements
7.20 Records that must be kept 98
7.21 Stratum records 98
7.22 Project tree measures 98
7.23 Carbon stock calculations 98
7.24 Allometric functions 98
7.25 Sampling plans 98
7.26 Quality assurance and control 99
7.27 Fuel use 99
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Part 1 Preliminary
1.1 Name of determination
This Determination is the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reforestation and Afforestation) Methodology Determination 2013.
1.2 Commencement
This Determination is taken to have come into force on 1 July 2010.
1.3 Definitions
In this Determination:
abatement potential—see section 2.3.
Act means the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
actual location coordinates means spatial coordinates that are collected on the ground using a global positioning system, and which define the location of plots, biomass sample plots and biomass sample trees.
actual plot size means the area of a plot as physically measured on the ground.
allometric data range means the range between the smallest and largest predictor measures included within an allometric dataset.
allometric dataset means predictor measures and biomass measurements recorded from biomass sample trees which are used to develop an allometric function.
allometric domain means the specific conditions under which an allometric function is applicable.
allometric function means a species-specific regression function fitted to a scatter of data-points that relate predictor measures collected through a non‑destructive measurement process to a measure of the weight of biomass within a project tree, and includes stratum specific and regional functions.
allometric report means a document that describes a project proponent’s approach to the development of allometric functions, including descriptions of allometric data, allometric domain, regression fitting processes and outcomes of checks against regression fit requirements.
applicability conditions means the conditions that are specified in Part 2 and that must be met in order for this Determination to be applied.
belt plantings means discrete patches of project trees that have been established in a linear or curvilinear ‘belt’ pattern where width measured across the belt is no wider than 50 metres.
biomass means dry, vegetation-derived organic matter.
biomass components means sections of trees that are divided on the basis of structure or form or both.
biomass sample plot means an area of land that occurs within a biomass sample site and is delineated in accordance with Part 5.
biomass sample site means an area of land from which biomass sample plots are randomly located and biomass sample trees are randomly selected, for the purposes of developing a regional function.
biomass sample tree means a tree selected for destructive sampling in order to develop an allometric function.
branches means the hard, woody above-ground support elements of a tree that are connected to the stem, support the crown, and have a distinct, thick bark layer.
bulked sample means a sample of litter collected through combining 4 smaller samples into a single sample.
carbon dioxide equivalent means carbon dioxide mass equivalent, calculated by multiplying the mass of elemental carbon by .
carbon fraction means the proportion, by weight, of dry organic matter that is composed of carbon.
carbon stocks means the quantity of carbon, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent, held within project forest biomass.
closing carbon stocks means the amount of carbon, expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent, estimated to be held within the project forest biomass occurring within a stratum at the end of a reporting period.
Commencement means the point in time at which preparation of a stratum for planting begins.
crown means non-woody, above-ground tree structures that include twigs, petioles, and leaves, and that are involved in photosynthesis or supporting photosynthetic structures.
crown cover means the amount of land covered by the outer limits of the crown (viewed as a horizontal cross-section) of a tree, or collection of trees.
dead standing tree means a dead tree that shows no signs of having been affected by fire and which remains in an upright, vertical position.
dead standing fire affected tree means a dead tree that shows obvious signs of having been affected by fire and that remains in an upright, vertical position.
disturbance affected stratum means a stratum that has been subject to a growth disturbance event, other than fire—see section 3.5.
establishment phase means a period of land- and project-forest management that is applied to a stratum from 6 months before the planting start date through to 3 years following the planting finish date.
extant project forest means the area of land defined by a project proponent as being occupied by project trees at a specified point in time or during a specified reporting period.
fallen dead wood means dead woody stem and branch components that:
(a) have a cross‑sectional diameter of more than 2.5 centimetres;
(b) are derived from a project tree; and
(c) occur at ground level.
fire affected stratum means an area of project forest that has experienced a fire event and that has been dealt with in accordance with section 3.5.
fire emissions means emissions of methane (CH4) or nitrous oxide (N2O) arising from fire events.
fire event means an occurrence of a fire in a stratum or strata.
forest means land of a minimum area of 0.2 of a hectare on which trees:
(a) have attained, or have the potential to attain, a crown cover of at least 20% across the area of land; and
(b) have reached, or have the potential to reach, a height of at least 2 metres.
forest cover—land has forest cover if:
(a) the land has an area of at least 0.2 of a hectare; and
(b) the vegetation on the land includes trees that:
(i) are 2 metres or more in height; and
(ii) provide crown cover of at least 20% of the land.
fuel emissions means emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), or methane (CH4) arising from fossil fuel use in relation to the delivery of project activities within the project area.
full inventory means an estimation of carbon stocks conducted in accordance with section 5.2.
Note This is one of the 2 measurement processes available to a project proponent to estimate carbon stocks within a stratum and involves the use of temporary sample plots and, optionally, permanent sample plots to estimate carbon stocks. The other process is PSP assessment.
growth disturbance—see section 3.5.
intended location coordinates means spatial coordinates for a randomly selected intersection from a grid overlay used to define the proposed on‑ground location of plots and biomass sample plots.
initial
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.