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Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2018
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Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2018.
Schedule 1—Emissions avoidance—calculation of adjusted contribution to net abatement amount for a calendar year
If the project proponent elects to calculate the adjusted contribution to the net abatement amount for the project area from emissions avoidance for calendar year y of the reporting period, AEA,adj,y in equation 1, without using SavBAT 3, the amount is calculated as follows.
First, the contribution to the net abatement amount for the project area from emissions avoidance in the project area for the calendar year, AEA, is calculated. This is calculated as the difference between the mean annual emissions from savanna burning over the baseline period, and the emissions from savanna burning during that year. The calculations are based on the vegetation fuel type map, factors taken from the National Inventory Report and the savanna technical guidance document, and various factors calculated from seasonal fire maps. Calculations of annual fuel loads in the project area take account of dead organic matter that accumulates each year in the project area as a result of undertaking the project.
Then, from AEA, the adjusted contribution to the net abatement amount for the calendar year, AEA,adj, is calculated. The adjustment manages the risk of the project containing some years in which emissions are higher than the mean annual baseline emissions, and involves apportioning the amount AEA between the adjusted contribution AEA,adj and an ‘uncertainty buffer’. Generally, the uncertainty buffer starts at zero (unless the project area is a transferring project area). The uncertainty buffer is capped at a maximum, BU,Cap, which is equal to 5 per cent of the mean annual baseline emissions. The uncertainty buffer is subtracted from in years in which AEA is less than zero. For years in which AEA is greater than zero, the uncertainty buffer is generally added to, subject to its reaching the maximum, BU,Cap.
The value of the uncertainty buffer cap, BU,Cap, and values relating to the baseline period, are re‑calculated each year, and will potentially change from year to year. Changes to these values might arise, for example, if documents that are referred to as in force from time to time are modified, if the vegetation fuel type map is revised, or if project areas are divided.
2 Calculation of adjusted contribution to net abatement amount from emissions avoidance for a calendar year, AEA,adj
For paragraph (b) of the definition of AEA,adj,y in subsection 34(1) of this determination, the adjusted contribution to the net abatement amount from emissions avoidance for a particular project area and for a particular calendar year, AEA,adj, in tonnes CO2‑e, is calculated by:
(a) calculating the previous year’s uncertainty buffer for the project area, BU,Prev, in tonnes CO2‑e, in accordance with section 3 of this Schedule; and
(b) calculating the contribution to the net abatement amount from emissions avoidance for the project area for the calendar year, AEA, in tonnes CO2‑e, in accordance with section 4 of this Schedule; and
(c) calculating the uncertainty buffer cap for the project area for the calendar year, BU,Cap, in tonnes CO2‑e, in accordance with section 5 of this Schedule; and
(d) determining which set of conditions set out in the table below is satisfied in relation to the project area for the calendar year; and
(e) calculating, in accordance with the corresponding row of the table:
(i) the adjusted contribution to the net abatement amount from emissions avoidance for the project area and for the calendar year, AEA,adj, in tonnes CO2‑e; and
(ii) the current year’s uncertainty buffer for the project area, BU,Curr, in tonnes CO2‑e.
Note 1: Division 3 of this Schedule sets out adjustments to these calculations, which apply:
if a project area spans both rainfall zones (see section 10 of this Schedule); and
if a project area is divided into 2 or more subdivided project areas (see section 12 of this Schedule).
Note 2: If, during a reporting period, the vegetation fuel type map is revised in accordance with section 19 of this determination, the version of the map as in force at the end of the reporting period is used for calculations for all years of the reporting period (including for the calculation of the current year’s uncertainty buffer and the uncertainty buffer cap, and amounts that relate to the baseline period). See subsection 10(1) of this determination. However, a previous year’s uncertainty buffer that was calculated on the basis of an earlier version of the vegetation fuel type map is not revised on the basis of the revised map.
3 The previous year’s uncertainty buffer, BU,Prev
(1) For paragraph 2(a) of this Schedule, and subject to section 12 of this Schedule (which deals with subdivided project areas), the previous year’s uncertainty buffer for the project area, BU,Prev, in tonnes CO2‑e, is:
(a) if, for the previous calendar year, an uncertainty buffer was calculated for the project area in accordance with the methodology determination that applied to the project to which the project area belonged in that year—equal to the value of the uncertainty buffer so calculated; and
Note: For paragraph (a), the uncertainty buffer might have been calculated as the current year’s uncertainty buffer BU,Curr under this determination or the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2018, or as the amount Ry under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015.
(2) For paragraph (1)(a), if the project was reported on for that year, the relevant value is the value reported in the offsets report.
Note: Paragraph (1)(a) is modified in some cases if the requirement in lieu of the newness requirement set out in paragraph 21(2)(c) of this determination was met. See subparagraph 21(3)(d)(i) of this determination.
4 The contribution to the net abatement amount from emissions avoidance for a calendar year, AEA
For paragraph 2(b) of this Schedule, the contribution to the net abatement amount from emissions avoidance for a project area for a calendar year, AEA, in tonnes CO2‑e, is given by the following equation:
| View image in the official source | equation 2 |
View image in the official source is the mean annual baseline fire emissions for the project area, in tonnes CO2‑e—from equation 4.
EF is the fire emissions for the project area for the calendar year, in tonnes CO2‑e, and is given by the amount EF as calculated in accordance with equation 5 for the calendar year.
5 The uncertainty buffer cap for a calendar year, BU,Cap
For paragraph 2(c) of this Schedule, the uncertainty buffer cap for the project area for a calendar year, BU,Cap, in tonnes CO2‑e, is given by the following equation:
| View image in the official source | equation 3 |
View image in the official source is the mean annual baseline fire emissions for the project area, in tonnes CO2‑e—from equation 4.
6 Mean annual baseline fire emissions
For sections 4 and 5 of this Schedule, the mean annual baseline fire emissions, View image in the official source, is given by the following equation:
| View image in the official source | equation 4 |
YB is the number of years in the baseline period for the project area (either 10 or 15).
y is a calendar year of the baseline period.
EF,y is the fire emissions for the project area for calendar year y, in tonnes CO2‑e—calculated as EF for that year using equation 5.
7 Fire emissions for a calendar year, EF
Fire emissions
(1) For the definitions of EF in section 4 of this Schedule and EF,y in section 6 of this Schedule, the fire emissions for a project area in a particular calendar year is given by the following equation:
| View image in the official source | equation 5 |
v is a vegetation fuel type on the vegetation fuel type map for the project area.
s is the fire season, and takes on the values early dry season and late dry season.
CEv,s is the carbon emissions per hectare of a fire in the project area that burns a hectare of vegetation fuel type v in fire season s of the calendar year, in tonnes CO2-e per hectare—from equation 6.
SFS,v,s is the fire scar area for the project area, in hectares, for vegetation fuel type v in fire season s of the calendar year, and is calculated, using GIS software, by:
(a) overlaying the vegetation fuel type map with the seasonal fire map for fire season s of the calendar year; and
(b) from that combined map, for each vegetation fuel type v, calculating the area that was burnt during the fire season s.
Note: The savanna technical guidance document provides for how to create the seasonal fire maps.
Ps is the patchiness for fire season s, from the National Inventory Report.
Carbon emissions per hectare
(2) For subsection (1), the carbon emissions per hectare of a fire in the project area that burns a hectare of vegetation fuel type v in fire season s of a calendar year, in tonnes CO2-e per hectare, CEv,s, is given by the following equation:
| View image in the official source | equation 6 |
g is a greenhouse gas, and takes on the values methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O).
f is a fuel size class, and takes on the values of each of the fuel size classes.
BEf,s is the burning efficiency of fuel of fuel size class f in fire season s—from the National Inventory Report.
FLf,v,s is the fuel load for the project area, in tonnes of biomass per hectare, of fuel size class f of vegetation fuel type v for fire season s of the calendar year, and is calculated in accordance with:
(a) for shrub fuel and fine fuel—section 8; and
(b) for coarse fuel and heavy fuel—section 9.
Note: The fuel load FLf,v,s for coarse fuel and heavy fuel will be the same for both fire seasons s.
EFg,f,v is the emission factor for greenhouse gas g for fuel size class f of vegetation fuel type v—from the National Inventory Report.
CCf,v is the carbon content for fuel size class f of vegetation fuel type v, in tonnes of carbon per tonne of biomass—from the National Inventory Report.
NCg,f,v is the nitrogen to carbon ratio in relation to greenhouse gas g for fuel size class f of vegetation fuel type v, and is:
(a) for methane (CH4)—equal to 1; and
(b) for nitrous oxide (N2O)—from the National Inventory Report.
MRg is the ratio of the molecular mass to elemental mass for greenhouse gas g, and is equal to:
(a) for methane (CH4)—1.3333; and
(b) for nitrous oxide (N2O)—1.5714.
GWPg is the global warming potential of greenhouse gas g, in tonnes of CO2‑e per tonne of carbon—from the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2008.
8 Fuel loads—shrub fuel and fine fuel
(1) This section sets out how to calculate the fuel loads for the project area for a calendar year for shrub fuel and fine fuel for the definition of FLf,v,s for subsection 7(2).
(2) The project proponent must:
(a) in accordance with the savanna technical guidance document, produce or source a years‑since‑last‑burnt (YSLB) map for the calendar year that covers the project area; and
(b) use that map to determine, for years-since-last-burnt values YSLB = 1 to 11, for the calendar year, and for each vegetation fuel type v, the area burnt, SYSLB,v for the project area, by comparing the YSLB map for the year with the vegetation fuel type map; and
(c) use those areas burnt to calculate the fuel load, FLf,v,s for the project area, in tonnes of biomass per hectare, for fuel size class f of vegetation fuel type v, for fire season s of the calendar year, in accordance with equation 7.
(3) For paragraph (2)(c), the equation is the following:
| View image in the official source | equation 7 |
SYSLB,v is the area of the project area burnt in the calendar year, in hectares, for years-since-last burnt value YSLB and for vegetation fuel type v, from paragraph (2)(b).
FAYSLB,f,v,s is the fuel accumulation value for years-since-last-burnt value YSLB, in tonnes of biomass per hectare, for fuel size class f of vegetation fuel type v for fire season s, as given by the savanna technical guidance document.
9 Fuel loads—coarse fuel and heavy fuel
(1) This section sets out how to calculate the fuel loads for the project area for a calendar year for coarse fuel and heavy fuel for the definition of FLf,v,s for subsection 7(2).
Outline
(2) The project proponent must:
(a) first, calculate the mean fire frequency in vegetation of each vegetation fuel type v in each fire season s for the project area and for the relevant calculation period (see section 5 of this determination), FFv,s, using equation 8, in years–1; and
Note: See section 11 of this Schedule for adjustments to these calculations if some or all of these fire frequencies are equal to zero.
(b) secondly, using these amounts, calculate the mean fire return interval for each vegetation fuel type v for the project area and for the relevant calculation period, FRIv, using equation 9, in years; and
(c) thirdly, using the amounts calculated in paragraphs (a) and (b), calculate the mean proportion of fuel size class f that is of vegetation fuel type v that remains after a fire for the project area and for the relevant calculation period, View image in the official source, using equation 10; and
(d) fourthly, using the amounts calculated in paragraphs (b) and (c), calculate the mean baseline and project fuel load amounts of biomass in the dead organic matter, View image in the official source and View image in the official source, for fuel size class f of vegetation type v at the mean fire return interval for the project area and for the relevant calculation period, in tonnes of biomass per hectare, using equation 11; and
(e) finally, using the amounts calculated in paragraph (d), calculate the baseline and project fuel loads, FLf,v,s, in tonnes of biomass per hectare in accordance with equation 12 for the calendar year for the project area.
Calculations
(3) For paragraph (2)(a), the equation is the following:
| View image in the official source | equation 8 |
n is length, in years, of the relevant calculation period in relation to which View image in the official source or View image in the official source is being calculated.
y is a calendar year of the relevant calculation period.
SFS,v,s,y is the fire scar area, in hectares, for vegetation fuel type v for fire season s of year y of the relevant calculation period for the project area, and has the same value as SFS,v,s as calculated for that year referred to in subsection 7(1).
SV,v is the total area covered by vegetation of vegetation fuel type v in the project area, ascertained from the vegetation fuel type map for the project area, in hectares.
(4) For paragraph (2)(b), the equation is the following:
| View image in the official source | equation 9 |
s is a fire season (either the early dry season or the late dry season).
FFv,s is the mean fire frequency in vegetation of vegetation fuel type v in fire season s for the project area and for the relevant calculation period, in years–1, from equation 8.
(5) For paragraph (2)(c), the equation is the following:
| View image in the official source | equation 10 |
s is a fire season (either the early dry season or the late dry season).
FRIv is the mean fire return interval for vegetation of vegetation fuel type v for the project area and for the relevant calculation period, as calculated using equation 9, in years.
BEf,s is the burning efficiency for fuel of fuel size class f in fire season s, from the National Inventory Report.
FFv,s is the mean fire frequency in vegetation of vegetation fuel type v in fire season s for the project area and for the relevant calculation period, in years–1, from equation 8.
Ps is the patchiness for fire season s, from the National Inventory Report.
(6) For paragraph (2)(d), the equation is the following:
| View image in the official source | equation 11 |
Lf,v is the annual rate of accumulation of fuel of fuel size class f that is of vegetation fuel type v, as given by the National Inventory Report, in tonnes of biomass per hectare per year.
Df,v is the proportion of vegetation of fuel of fuel size class f that is of vegetation fuel type v that decomposes each year in a given area, as given by the National Inventory Report, in years–1.
FRIv is the mean fire return interval for vegetation of vegetation fuel type v for the project area and for the relevant calculation period, as calculated using equation 9, in years.
View image in the official source is the mean proportion of fuel of fuel size class f that is of vegetation fuel type v that remains after a fire for the project area and for the relevant calculation period, as calculated using equation 10.
(7) For paragraph (2)(e), the equation is the following:
| View image in the official source | equation 12 |
View image in the official source is the amount for the project area calculated in accordance with equation 11 over the baseline period (paragraph (a) of the definition of relevant calculation period in section 5), in tonnes of biomass per hectare.
View image in the official source is the amount for the project area calculated in accordance with equation 11 over the relevant calculation period (paragraph (b) of the definition of that term in section 5), in tonnes of biomass per hectare.
LEA, for a particular calendar year, is equal to:
(a) for a year of the baseline period—zero; and
(b) otherwise—the smaller of:
(i) the length, in years, of the period between:
(A) the beginning of the calendar year in which this determination or the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2018 became the applicable methodology determination; and
(B) the end of the calendar year; and
(ii) the amount LCP,EA.
LCP,EA is equal to:
(a) for a continuing transferring project—the difference, in years, between:
(i) the length of:
(A) the crediting period; or
(B) if the project has 2 crediting periods as a result of subsection 70(2) of the Act—the second crediting period; and
(ii) the length of the period for which the project was reported on under a methodology determination other than this determination or the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2018;
rounded down to the nearest whole number of calendar years; and
(b) otherwise—the length, in years, of:
(i) the crediting period; or
(ii) if the project has 2 crediting periods as a result of subsection 70(2) of the Act—the second crediting period.
Note: There will ordinarily be 25 years in the crediting period. For the crediting period of certain projects that include a transferring project area, see section 28 of this determination.
10 Adjustments resulting from project area spanning rainfall zones
If a single project area has 2 project area parts, AEA,adj for the project area is instead calculated by:
(a) calculating a value of AEA,adj in tonnes CO2‑e in accordance with this Schedule for each project area part as if it were a separate project area; and
11 Adjustments resulting from lack of fire activity
(1) This section applies if, when calculating FLf,v,s under section 9 of this Schedule for a particular calendar year after the baseline period, for any vegetation fuel type v on the vegetation fuel type map, the sum of the mean fire frequencies FFv,s as given by equation 8, over both fire seasons, is equal to zero.
(2) For that calendar year, View image in the official source is taken to be equal to View image in the official source.