Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2026.
This instrument is the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2026.
2 Commencement
Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information
Column 1 Column 2 Column 3
Provisions Commencement Date/Details
The whole of this instrument The day after this instrument is registered.
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.
Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.
3 Authority
This instrument is made under subsections 106(1) and 123(1) of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
4 Schedules
Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or revoked as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.
5 Duration
This instrument remains in force for the period that:
begins when this instrument commences; and
ends on the day before this instrument would otherwise be repealed under subsection 50(1) of the Legislation Act 2003.
6 Definitions
Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in section 5 of the Act, including the following:
Australian carbon credit unit;
crediting period;
eligible carbon abatement;
eligible offsets project;
emission;
Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee;
greenhouse gas;
offsets project;
offsets report;
project;
project area;
project proponent;
Regulator;
reporting period.
In this instrument:
Act means the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
baseline period—see section 8.
capacity building fire management means planned and intended early dry season burning that is conducted:
in the period immediately preceding the declaration of the project as an eligible offsets project; and
to enable land managers to develop knowledge, skills and processes relevant to early dry season fire management.
CFI Rules means the legislative rules made under section 308 of the Act and in force.
CO2-e means carbon dioxide equivalent.
early dry season—see section 7.
fire season—see section 7.
former determination, for a transferring project area—see subsection 27(2).
former project—see section 27.
high rainfall zone means the area of land identified as such on the Savanna Fire Management High Rainfall Zone spatial data layer.
late dry season—see section 7.
low rainfall zone means the area of land identified as such on the Savanna Fire Management Low Rainfall Zone spatial data layer.
mapping unit, in relation to a map that represents a particular area of land that is divided into 2 or more discrete parts, refers to each part that represents a different portion of that area of land.
Note: An example of a mapping unit is a pixel on a map that is in raster format.
net abatement amount, for a savanna emissions avoidance project, means the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for the project in relation to a reporting period for the project for the purposes of paragraph 106(1)(c) of the Act.
original project area—see section 9.
project area rainfall part, of a project area, means either that part entirely within the high rainfall zone or that part entirely within the low rainfall zone.
Note: If a project area is entirely within a single rainfall zone, it has a single project area rainfall part. If a project area spans both rainfall zones, it has two project area rainfall parts.
project management plan—see section 19.
relevant weed species means a weed species that materially affects fire dynamics and is identified in the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods as a relevant weed species.
savanna means land that is characterised by a tropical or sub-tropical vegetation formation with continuous grass cover occasionally interrupted by trees and shrubs.
savanna fire management determination means any of the following:
the Carbon Farming (Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Early Dry Season Savanna Burning) Methodology Determination 2012;
the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions through Early Dry Season Savanna Burning—1.1) Methodology Determination 2013;
the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Emissions Abatement through Savanna Fire Management) Methodology Determination 2015;
the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2018;
the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2018;
the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2026.
Savanna Fire Management High Rainfall Zone spatial data layer, in relation to a project for a reporting period, means the document of that name that is published on the Department’s website, as in effect at the end of the reporting period.
Savanna Fire Management Low Rainfall Zone spatial data layer, in relation to a project for a reporting period, means the document of that name that is published on the Department’s website, as in effect at the end of the reporting period.
Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods means the document of that name, as published on the Department’s website and as in force from time to time.
savanna sequestration determination means the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2018 or the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2026.
SavCAM means:
the version of the Savanna Carbon Accounting Model, as published on the Department’s website, that applies in relation to a savanna emissions avoidance project in accordance with the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods; or
if the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods:
does not indicate which version applies in relation to a savanna emissions avoidance project; or
indicates a version which applies in relation to a savanna emissions avoidance project and that version is no longer accessible;
the Savanna Carbon Accounting Model, as published on the Department’s website and as in force from time to time.
section 128 application, in relation to an eligible offsets project, means an application under section 128 of the Act to apply this instrument to the project.
section 22 application, in relation to an offsets project, means the 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 the declaration under section 27 of the Act that the project is an eligible offsets project.
section 29 application means an application to vary a section 27 declaration made under the CFI Rules for the purposes of section 29 of the Act.
subdivided project area—see section 9.
transferring project area—see section 27.
vegetation fuel type means a type of vegetation that is characterised in terms of the structural formation (canopy height and foliage projected cover) of its dominant stratum and its grass type, and that is identified as a vegetation fuel type for a particular rainfall zone in the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods.
vegetation fuel type map means a map of one or more project areas that:
is a geospatial map that is divided into mapping units; and
has assigned to each mapping unit a code that indicates, for the area of land represented by the mapping unit:
the appropriate vegetation fuel type; or
the fact that the area of land is ineligible; and
has been created and validated in accordance with this instrument.
weed affected area—see section 16.
7 Meaning of fire season, early dry season and late dry season
In this instrument, the fire seasons are the early dry season and the late dry season.
Note: Each year in northern Australia, there is also a wet season, which occurs approximately from November to April. For the purposes of this instrument, the definitions of the early and late dry seasons overlap with the wet season, as fire generally does not occur during the wet season.
In this instrument:
early dry season, for a particular area of land and for a particular calendar year, means the period of the calendar year that is not late dry season for that area.
late dry season, for a particular area of land and for a particular calendar year, means the period that:
begins on the date of that year indicated for that area in the Savanna Fire Management LDS Start Date spatial data layer; and
ends on the date for that year (which may be in that year or in the following year) indicated for that area of land in the Savanna Fire Management LDS End Date spatial data layer.
Savanna Fire Management LDS End Date spatial data layer, in relation to a calendar year, means the document of that name, as published on the Department’s website and in force on 30 June in the previous calendar year.
Savanna Fire Management LDS Start Date spatial data layer, in relation to a calendar year, means the document of that name, as published on the Department’s website and in force on 30 June in the previous calendar year.
8 Meaning of baseline period
For the purposes of this instrument, the baseline period for a particular area of land that is not an area referred to in subsections (2), (3) or (4) is the period of 20 calendar years that ends immediately before:
(a) for an area of land that is part of a project area that was identified in the section 27 declaration when the project was declared an eligible offsets project—the calendar year in which the crediting period of the project begins; and
(b) for an area of land that is part of a project area that was identified in the section 27 declaration at a later date—the calendar year in which the relevant variation of the section 27 declaration took effect.
(2) The baseline period for an area of land in a subdivided project area is the same as the baseline period of the area of land in the original project area.
(3) The baseline period for an area of land in a transferring project area is the same as the baseline period for that area under the former determination for that area.
(4) If capacity building fire management has been conducted within an area of land and that area is not a transferring project area, the baseline period for the project area that contains that area of land is the period of 20 calendar years that ends immediately before:
(a) if the time period between the start date and end date of the capacity building fire management is 6 calendar years or fewer—the calendar year in which the capacity building fire management began, or
(b) if the time period between the start date and end date of the capacity building fire management is more than 6 calendar years— the calendar year that is 6 years before the end date of the capacity building fire management.
9 Meaning of original project area and subdivided project area
For the purposes of this instrument, if:
a project area (the original project area) is divided into 2 or more smaller project areas; and
the area made up of the areas of land covered by those smaller project areas, when taken together, is identical to the area of land covered by the original project area;
each smaller project area is a subdivided project area.
Note: To effect the subdivision, the project proponent must make a section 29 application in respect of the project area in accordance with the CFI Rules.
10 Updates to external documents as in force from time to time
If this instrument makes provision in relation to a matter by applying, adopting or incorporating a matter contained in another instrument or writing as in force from time to time, an updated version of that instrument or writing is only taken to be in force if, when published, it includes or is accompanied by:
a document stating the reasons why the document was republished in an updated form and an outline of the process that was undertaken when updating the document; and
if advice was obtained from the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee in relation to the update—a copy of the advice.
If an updated version of an instrument or writing is published but does not satisfy the requirements in subsection (1), the earlier version of that instrument or writing is taken to continue in force.
11 Factors and parameters from external sources
(1) If a calculation in this instrument 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:
this instrument specifies otherwise; or
it is not possible to define or calculate the factor or parameter by reference to the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period.
Part 2—Savanna emissions avoidance projects
12 Savanna emissions avoidance projects
For the purposes of paragraph 106(1)(a) of the Act, this instrument applies to an offsets project that:
involves undertaking savanna fire management with the objective of avoiding the emission of methane and nitrous oxide from the burning of savannas, compared to the emissions during the baseline period; and
does not result in an increase in:
greenhouse gas emissions from any other source; or
the rate of decomposition of organic carbon; and
is carried out on a savanna that is in either or both of the following:
(i) the high-rainfall zone;
(ii) the low-rainfall zone; and
can reasonably be expected to result in eligible carbon abatement.
A project covered by subsection (1) is a savanna emissions avoidance project.
This instrument does not apply to an offsets project if that offsets project has been or is an eligible offsets project under a savanna sequestration determination.
Note: The Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2026 covers offsets projects that involve undertaking savanna fire management with objectives of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by sequestering more carbon (in living biomass or dead organic matter) than was sequestered during the baseline period and avoiding the emission of methane and nitrous oxide from the burning of savannas, compared to the emissions during the baseline period.
Part 3—Project requirements
Division 1—General
13 Operation of this Part
For the purposes of paragraph 106(1)(b) of the Act, this Part sets out requirements that must be met for a savanna emissions avoidance project to be an eligible offsets project.
Division 6 specifies:
for the purposes of subparagraph 27(4A)(a)(ii) of the Act, requirements in lieu of the newness requirement for savanna emissions avoidance projects; and
for the purposes of subparagraph 27(4A)(b)(ii) of the Act, a requirement in lieu of the regulatory additionality requirement for savanna emissions avoidance projects.
For the purposes of paragraph 69(2)(b) of the Act, Division 7 specifies crediting periods for certain projects.
Division 2—Project area
14 Requirement to be in high or low rainfall zone
A project area for a savanna emissions avoidance project must not include an area of land that is in neither the high rainfall zone nor the low rainfall zone.
15 Requirement to maintain vegetation fuel types
A project area for a savanna emissions avoidance project must include an area of land that contains a vegetation fuel type at the relevant date.
After the relevant date, a project area must continue to include an area of land that contains a vegetation fuel type.
If, at any time after the relevant date, there is a change that results in a significant portion of land in the project area becoming classified as ineligible according to the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods, that significant portion of land may be removed from the project in accordance with the CFI Rules.
Note: To effect the removal, the project proponent must make a section 29 application in respect of the project area in accordance with the CFI Rules. To remove part of a project area from the project, the project area must first be subdivided so that the area to be removed now constitutes the whole of a (smaller) project area.
In this section:
relevant date means the date of the section 22 application, section 29 application or section 128 application in relation to the project in which the project area is first identified.
significant portion of land means a contiguous area of land in the project area that is larger than 5% of the total area of the project area or larger than 50 hectares.
16 Requirement to manage relevant weed species
A project area for a savanna emissions avoidance project must be clear of all relevant weed species on the relevant date.
If, after the relevant date, the project proponent becomes aware that the project area includes an area of land that contains a relevant weed species (a weed-affected area), the weed-affected area must be treated appropriately during the period that starts no later than 18 months after the area becomes a weed-affected area and ends when the relevant weed species has been eradicated from that area.
If a weed-affected area is removed from the project in accordance with the CFI Rules, that area is taken to have not included a weed-affected area before its removal for that purpose.
Note: The weed-affected area may be removed from the project in accordance with the CFI Rules. To effect the removal, the project proponent must make a section 29 application in respect of the project area in accordance with the CFI Rules. To remove part of a project area from the project, the project area must first be subdivided so that the area to be removed now constitutes the whole of a (smaller) project area.
For the purposes of subsection (1), a project area is taken to be clear of all relevant weed species at the relevant date if there is evidence that demonstrates all known weed-affected areas in that project area were treated appropriately within the 12-month period preceding that date.
A weed-affected area is treated appropriately if:
the relevant weed species in that area is treated with a herbicide to kill the entirety of its aboveground biomass, or is subjected to mechanical removal to destroy the entirety of its aboveground biomass; and
that treatment or removal is carried out in accordance with any relevant law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; and
that treatment occurs at least once every 12 months (unless such treatment is not possible due to circumstances beyond the project proponent’s reasonable control).
A relevant weed species is taken to have been eradicated from a weed-affected area when it has not been detected in that area for at least 24 months or, if another period of time is specified in the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods for a particular relevant weed species, for at least that period of time.
In this section:
relevant date means the date of the section 22 application, section 29 application or section 128 application in relation to the project in which the project area is first identified.
17 Project area not to contain previously removed areas
A project area for a savanna emissions avoidance project must not be, or include, an area of land that was previously part of the project, or previously part of another project covered by this instrument or a savanna fire management determination, but was removed in accordance with subsection 15(3) or as referred to in section 16(3) (or an equivalent provision of the savanna fire management determination).
Division 3—Project activity
18 Requirement to undertake savanna fire management
(1) The project proponent must undertake savanna fire management by undertaking planned burning in each project area each calendar year.
(2) The planned burning must be undertaken each year in such a way that the combination of:
(a) the pattern of planned and unplanned burning (if any) in all previous calendar years since the project commenced; and
(b) the planned burning undertaken in that calendar year (if any); and
(c) the planned burning that is proposed to be undertaken for the remainder of the project’s crediting period;
in the project area together demonstrate a program of burning that meets the objectives referred to in paragraph 12(1)(a).
(3) A failure to undertake planned burning in a particular project area in a particular calendar year is not, of itself, a contravention of subsection (1) if the failure resulted from circumstances beyond the project proponent’s reasonable control.
(4) If a project area is divided into 2 or more subdivided project areas on a particular date, for the purposes of this section, planned burning that was undertaken in any part of the original project area prior to that date may be treated as having been undertaken in any of the subdivided project areas.
Note: In monitoring whether a project continues to meet the requirements of section 18, the Regulator will consider a range of information, including the project management plan and other information included in an offsets report under subsection 38(2) and the information in any SavCAM reports relating to the project.
Division 4—Project management plan
19 Requirement to prepare project management plan
For each savanna emissions avoidance project, the project proponent must, each calendar year, prepare a project management plan or plans that cover all project areas for that project.
A project management plan is a document that:
(a) describes the planned burning that is intended to be undertaken in a project area for that year; and
(b) demonstrates that:
the likely impact of PM2.5 particulate matter on air quality, as a result of that burning, in areas where people live has been considered; and
if there are air quality management requirements specified in the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods, the consideration referred to in subparagraph (i) is in a manner consistent with those requirements; and
(c) includes a plan for monitoring for the presence of each relevant weed species in each project area that:
demonstrates the level of risk of relevant weed species occurring in each project area has been considered; and
describes how that risk has been determined; and
describes a monitoring approach (including the methods and frequency of monitoring); and
is consistent with any weed monitoring requirements specified in the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods.
A project management plan that relates to a particular project area must be prepared before commencing planned burning in that project area in the year to which the plan relates.
Note: The Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods may contain recommended guidelines relating to aspects of project management.
20 Updating or revising project management plan
A project management plan may be revised or updated throughout the calendar year to which it relates.
The part of the project management plan described in paragraph 19(2)(c) must be reviewed by the project proponent at least once every 5 years and revised accordingly.
Any revision or update of the project management plan must include the date of the revision or update.
Division 5—Vegetation fuel type map
21 Requirement to create and validate vegetation fuel type map
For each savanna emissions avoidance project, the project proponent must create and validate a vegetation fuel type map for each project area (whether the project area was identified in the section 22 application or section 128 application, or was subsequently added to the project in accordance with a section 29 application):
(a) in accordance with the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods; and
(b) before the project proponent submits the first offsets report to which Division 1 of Part 5 of this instrument applies.
22 Revising vegetation fuel type map
If the project proponent becomes aware that the vegetation fuel type map:
classifies a mapping unit as a vegetation fuel type when, in accordance with the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods, it should be classified as ineligible; or
classifies a mapping unit as one particular vegetation fuel type when, in accordance with the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods, it should be classified as another vegetation fuel type;
the project proponent must:
(c) notify the Regulator in writing of the matter in paragraph (a) or (b) within 90 days of becoming aware of it; and
(d) revise the vegetation fuel type map accordingly.
If the project proponent becomes aware that the vegetation fuel type map classifies a mapping unit as ineligible when, in accordance with the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods, it should be classified as a vegetation fuel type, the project proponent:
may revise the vegetation fuel type map accordingly; and
if the vegetation fuel type map is revised in accordance with paragraph (a) — notify the Regulator in writing of the date and nature of the revision within 90 days of the revision being made.
A vegetation fuel type map revised in accordance with this section must be validated in accordance with the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods.
Note: The Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods may require validation of the entire vegetation fuel type map even if the area of land represented by the mapping unit or units that are being revised is only part of the area covered by that vegetation fuel type map.
A revision and validation in accordance with this section must be completed:
in the case of a revision required by subsection (1)—before submitting an offsets report for the reporting period in which the project proponent becomes aware of the matter referred to in that subsection; or
in any other case—before submitting an offsets report for the first reporting period for which the revised map is used.
23 Vegetation fuel type map for subdivided project area
This section applies if:
a vegetation fuel type map for a particular project area has been created and validated, or revised and validated, as the case requires, in accordance with this instrument; and
the project area is divided into 2 or more subdivided project areas in accordance with the CFI Rules.
The vegetation fuel type map for the original project area is taken:
to be a single map that relates to each subdivided project area; and
to have been created and validated, or revised and validated, as the case requires, in accordance with this instrument.
However, if the subdivision of the project area impacts the accuracy of the vegetation fuel type map, the vegetation fuel type map must be revised, if necessary, and re-validated within 2 years of the subdivision.
Division 6—Newness and additionality
24 Requirement in lieu of newness requirement
For the purposes of subparagraph 27(4A)(a)(ii) of the Act, the requirement in lieu of the newness requirement for a savanna emissions avoidance project is the requirement in subsection (2).
Each project area for the project:
must be a transferring project area; or
must not have had any project covered by a savanna fire management determination or by this instrument undertaken in any part of the project area; or
if the project area has had a project covered by a savanna fire management determination or by this instrument undertaken in any part of the project area—must not have had any Australian carbon credit units issued in relation to any part of the project area while the project was covered by any such methodology determination; or
if the project area has had a project covered by a savanna fire management determination or by this instrument undertaken in any part of the project area and Australian carbon credit units issued in relation to any part of the project area while the project was covered by any such methodology determination —must be a project area in which the project undertaken in it was revoked as an eligible offsets project 10 years or more before the project area was identified in a declaration of the project as an eligible offsets project under this instrument.
Modification of operation of some provisions of this instrument if paragraph (2)(c) is met
Note: For a project area that met the requirement of paragraph (2)(c) or (d), some provisions of this instrument will operate in a modified manner to account for the project that has been previously undertaken. Subsection (3) sets out these modifications.
For a project area that meets the requirement of paragraphs (2)(c) or (d):
for the purposes of subsection 15(3), disregard the section 22 application or the section 29 application in which the project area referred to in paragraph (2)(c) or (d) was first identified; and
for the purposes of subsection 27(1), disregard the project referred to in paragraph (2)(c); and
for the purposes of paragraph 3(1)(a) of Schedule 1, disregard any values that might have been calculated in relation to the project area referred to in paragraph (2)(c) or (d).
25 Requirement in lieu of regulatory additionality requirement
For the purposes of subparagraph 27(4A)(b)(ii) of the Act, the requirement in lieu of the regulatory additionality requirement for a savanna emissions avoidance project is the requirement in subsection (2).
A project area for the project must not include an area of land if fire management for the primary purpose of either or both of the following is required to be carried out by or under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory on that land:
reducing emissions from fire;
sequestering carbon in living biomass or dead organic matter.
Division 7—Projects that include transferring project areas
26 Simplified outline of this Division
This Division is relevant to a savanna emissions avoidance project if it contains a project area that was previously part of either a project covered by a savanna fire management determination or another project covered by this instrument. Such a project area is a transferring project area.
There are several ways of moving a transferring project area from its original project to another project that is covered by this instrument.
Moving project areas between savanna emissions avoidance projects
A project area may be moved from one savanna emissions avoidance project to another savanna emissions avoidance project in accordance with the requirements for voluntary variation of section 27 declarations in the CFI Rules.
Moving project areas from sequestration project to emissions avoidance project
If the original project is a project covered by a savanna sequestration determination, there are several options.
● One option is to apply to move all of the original sequestration project’s project areas onto an emissions avoidance project covered by this instrument. This would involve seeking revocation of the original project’s section 27 declaration (and, if Australian carbon credit units have been issued for the original project, revocation of the original project would involve relinquishment of that number of Australian carbon credit units).
● Another option is to apply to move only some of the original project’s project areas onto an emissions avoidance project covered by this instrument. This would involve seeking a variation of the original project to subdivide the project into two subdivided project areas, one covering all area of the project that is to remain, and one covering all area of the project that is to be moved. An application could then be made to add the entire subdivided project area to the savanna emissions avoidance project (and seeking to remove that entire subdivided project area from the original project) in accordance with the CFI Rules. If any Australian carbon credit units have been issued for the transferring subdivided project area while it was part of the original project, removal of that area would involve relinquishment of that number of Australian carbon credit units.
In either case, a new savanna emissions avoidance project would need to be declared as an eligible offsets project. The new project would have a new crediting period and would be a restarting transferring project.
Projects that contain transferring project areas
Some provisions of this instrument apply special rules to projects that contain transferring project areas. These provisions are principally set out in this Division.
27 Meaning of transferring project area and related definitions
A project area for a savanna emissions avoidance project is a transferring project area if, immediately before it was a project area for a project covered by this instrument, it was a project area for either of the following (the former project):
a project covered by a savanna fire management determination;
a different project covered by this instrument.
Note 1: Subsection (1) is modified in some cases if the requirement in lieu of the newness requirement set out in paragraph 24(2)(c) was met. See paragraph 24(3)(b).
The methodology determination that applied to the former project is the former determination for the transferring project area.
Note 2: The former determination could be this instrument.
A savanna emissions avoidance project is a restarting transferring project if:
when the project was first declared eligible, one or more of its project areas was a transferring project area; and
the former determination for each transferring project area was a savanna sequestration determination; and
before declaring the project an eligible offsets project, the Regulator revoked the section 27 declaration in relation to the former project of each transferring project area.
For the purposes of subsection (2), if:
a transferring project area was part of a project covered by a savanna fire management determination, and that project was varied to remove that transferring project area to another project covered by the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2026; and
after completion of that variation, the project covered by the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2026 is revoked; and
the transferring project area referred to in paragraph (a) is added to a savanna emissions avoidance project;
the methodology determination that applied to the project to which the transferring project area most recently belonged is taken to be the first savanna fire management determination referred to in paragraph (a).
To avoid doubt, subsection (1) does not require the former project to be a separate project, and in the case a project that is covered by an instrument specified in paragraphs (1)(a) or (b) and to which this instrument applies following an approval under section 130 of the Act, a reference to former project can be taken to be a reference to the project immediately before it became a project first covered by this instrument..
28 Requirements for projects with transferring project areas
Projects that have a transferring project area
If one or more project areas of a savanna emissions avoidance project are transferring project areas, for each such project area, the following must be consecutive years:
the final calendar year for which the project area was reported on under the former determination for the project area;
the first calendar year for which the project area was reported on under this instrument.
Restarting transferring projects
The former determination for each transferring project area identified in the section 27 declaration in relation to the declaration of a restarting transferring project as an eligible offsets project must be a savanna sequestration determination.
Project areas
When a relevant decision on a transferring project area is made, the requirement in subsection 15(1) does not apply to an area of land within the transferring project area if the relevant application indicates that the area of land will be removed from the project in accordance with subsection 15(3).
When a relevant decision on a transferring project area is made, the requirement in subsection 16(1) does not apply to an area of land within the transferring project area if the relevant application indicates that the area of land will be removed from the project as referred to in section 16(3).
When a relevant decision on a transferring project area is made, the requirement in section 17 that a project area must not include an area that was previously part of the project, or previously part of another project under this instrument or a savanna fire management determination, but was removed in accordance with subsection 15(3) or as referred to in section 16(3) (or an equivalent provision of a savanna fire management determination) does not apply to an area of land within the transferring project area if the relevant application indicates that the area of land will be removed from the project in accordance with subsection 15(2) or as referred to in section 16(3) (or the relevant equivalent provision), as the case requires.
In this section:
relevant application means a section 22 application, a section 29 application or a section 128 application.
relevant decision on a transferring project area means a decision on a relevant application that would result in a transferring project area becoming a project area, or part of a project area, of a project covered by this instrument.
29 Crediting periods
Note: Subsection 69(2) of the Act sets out the basic rule for the crediting period for a project. Generally, a project covered by this instrument will have the crediting period of 25 years specified in paragraph 69(2)(a) of the Act. Under paragraph 69(2)(b) of the Act, if another period is specified in the applicable methodology determination for the project, that period is the project’s crediting period. This section specifies a shorter period for projects that have a transferring project area, depending on whether new eligible interest holder consents have been obtained. Subsection 69(4) sets out how the start time for a crediting period is calculated. The start time of the crediting period for a project to which this instrument applies following an approval under section 130 of the Act is the start time of the crediting period for the project under the former determination.
If a project has transferring project areas and the relevant application (within the meaning of section 28) for that project included new consents from each person who holds an eligible interest in any area of land that is part of that project, for the purposes of paragraph 69(2)(b) of the Act, the crediting period specified for such a project is:
in the case of a restarting transferring project—25 years minus the period of time (rounded to the nearest year) that started when this instrument came into force and ended when the project was first declared eligible under this instrument; and
in the case of a project to which this instrument applies following an approval under section 130 of the Act—25 years plus the period of time (rounded to the nearest year) that the transferring project area was covered by the former determination minus the period of time (rounded to the nearest year) that started when this instrument came into force and ended when this instrument first applied to the project following approval under section 130 of the Act; and
in any other case—25 years.
If a project has transferring project areas and the relevant application (within the meaning of section 28) for that project did not include new consents from each person who holds an eligible interest in any area of land that is part of that project, for the purposes of paragraph 69(2)(b) of the Act, the period specified for the crediting period for such a project is:
in the case of a restarting transferring project—25 years minus the period of time (rounded to the nearest year) for which the project area was reported on while covered by the former determination and any other savanna emissions avoidance determination, as calculated in accordance with subsection (3); and
in the case of a project to which this instrument applies following an approval under section 130 of the Act—25 years; and
in any other case—25 years minus the period of time (rounded to the nearest year) for which the project area was reported on while covered by the former determination and any other savanna emissions avoidance determination, as calculated in accordance with subsection (3).
For the purposes of subsection (2), the period of time for which the project area was reported on while covered by the former determination and any other savanna emissions avoidance determination is the time between:
(a) 1 January 2015 or the start time of the crediting period for the project under the former determination, whichever is the later; and
(b) the date that the project became an eligible offsets project under this instrument.
30 Vegetation fuel type map for transferring project area
This section applies if:
a project area for a savanna emissions avoidance project is a transferring project area; and
a vegetation map or a vegetation fuel type map has been created and validated for the transferring project area in accordance with the former determination for that area.
The map is taken to be a vegetation fuel type map for the project area that has been created and validated in accordance with this instrument, and the pixels of the map are taken to be mapping units.
If the vegetation map referred to in paragraph (1)(b) required revision under that former determination at the time the area became a transferring project area, the project proponent for the project that includes the transferring project area must:
at the time the area becomes a transferring project area—notify the Regulator in writing that the vegetation map or vegetation fuel type map for the transferring project area requires revision; and
revise the map as required under the former determination.
For the purposes of this instrument, a reference to a vegetation class on a map that was created under a savanna emissions avoidance determination is taken to be a reference to the corresponding vegetation fuel type, in accordance with the Technical Guidance Document for the 2026 Savanna Fire Management Methods.
Division 8—Project applications
31 Information to include in section 22, 29 and 128 applications
If one or more project areas of a savanna emissions avoidance project will be transferring project areas, the section 22 application, section 29 application or section 128 application must include:
a statement of that fact; and
the identity of the transferring project areas; and
the unique project identifiers for the projects from which the project areas will be transferring; and
details of any persons who hold an eligible interest in any area of land that is part of the transferring project areas and evidence that those persons consented to the project; and
in relation to a section 29 application only—the results of equation 5 (if applicable).
If one or more project areas of a savanna emissions avoidance project is an area in which capacity building fire management is conducted, the section 22 application must include:
a statement of that fact; and
the identity of the capacity building fire management areas; and
details of the capacity building fire management carried out in each area; and
any relevant fire permits, burning records or reports to relevant bodies, and any other evidence that demonstrates the capacity building fire management has taken place.
If one or more project areas of a savanna sequestration project is an area in which there are known weed-affected areas, the section 22 application, section 29 application or section 128 application must include:
a statement of that fact; and
the identity of the weed-affected areas; and
the date of any treatment; and
details of the treatment.
Part 4—Net abatement amount
Division 1—Preliminary
32 Operation of this Part
For the purposes of 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 savanna emissions avoidance project that is an eligible offsets project.
33 Simplified outline of this Part
This instrument accounts for carbon abatement from undertaking savanna fire management. Carbon abatement is achieved through the avoidance of emitting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
A project covered by this instrument is an emissions avoidance offsets project.
To ascertain the net abatement amount in relation to a reporting period for a savanna emissions avoidance project under this instrument, the project proponent calculates the adjusted contributions from emissions avoidance for each calendar year that ends during the reporting. These calculations must be performed using SavCAM, in accordance with Schedules 1.
If the project has 2 or more project areas, adjusted contributions to the net abatement amount are calculated separately for each project area and added together.
When calculating the contribution to the net abatement amount from emissions avoidance, SavCAM calculations account for emissions for all fuel classes (that is, grass fuel, fine fuel, coarse fuel, and heavy fuel and the fire impacted proportion of living biomass).
34 Use of SavCAM
If a calculation is undertaken using SavCAM for the purposes of this instrument, SavCAM must be used in accordance with any guidance material on the SavCAM website.
35 Overview of gases accounted for in abatement calculations
The following table provides an overview of the emissions sources, and the associated greenhouse gases, that are relevant to working out the net abatement amount for a savanna emissions avoidance project.
Overview of gases accounted for in abatement calculations
Item Relevant emission source Greenhouse gas
1 Emission source Fire Methane (CH4)Nitrous oxide (N2O)
Division 2—Calculation of net abatement amount
36 The net abatement amount, A
(1) For the purposes of paragraph 106(1)(c) of the Act, the net abatement amount for a reporting period, in tonnes CO2‑e, is, subject to subsection (2), given by the following equation:
A is the net abatement amount for a project area for a reporting period.
y is a calendar year that ends during the reporting period.
N is the number of calendar years that end during the reporting period (1 or 2).
AEA,adj,y is the adjusted contribution to the net abatement amount from emissions avoidance for calendar year y, in tonnes CO2‑e, and:
(a) is calculated using SavCAM; or
(b) is given by the amount AEA,adj as calculated for calendar year y in accordance with Schedule 1.
Note: For the purposes of paragraph (b), see section 2 of Schedule 1.
Adjustments to calculations—multiple project areas
(2) If a project includes more than one project area, the net abatement amount for the project is ascertained by:
(a) calculating a value of A in tonnes CO2‑e in accordance with equation 1 for each project area individually; and
(b) summing the values so calculated.
Part 5—Reporting, record-keeping, monitoring and notification requirements
Division 1—Offsets report requirements
37 Operation of this Division
For the purposes of paragraph 106(3)(a) of the Act, this Division sets out information that must be included in an offsets report about a savanna emissions avoidance project that is an eligible offsets project for a reporting period.
Note: Other reporting requirements are set out in the CFI Rules.
38 Information that must be included in offsets reports
For each project area reported on, the offsets report for the reporting period must include the following:
a statement that the project area was not purportedly varied, and did not result from a project area that was purportedly varied, other than in accordance with the CFI Rules;
if the project area was added to the project as the result of a variation to the section 27 declaration and is being reported on for the first time—a statement of that fact;
if the project area is a subdivided project area that is first reported on during that reporting period:
1. a statement of that fact; and
2. the date on which the relevant variation of the section 27 declaration took effect;
a copy of each abatement report (as produced by SavCAM for the reporting period);
if the project area is a subdivided project area that is first reported on during the reporting period—the result of equation 5, and the inputs used for that calculation;
a statement that the project area was monitored in accordance with section 42 and the results of that monitoring;
a declaration to the effect that the density of livestock in the project area has not increased as a consequence of the project;
if relevant weed species are eradicated from an area—a map of the area in a geospatial format and evidence that the weeds were permanently removed from that area;
a copy of the latest version of the vegetation fuel type maps used to calculate abatement or in SavCAM for that reporting period for that area;
both:
1. a copy of the project management plan that was in effect at the end of the reporting period; and
2. if any project activities in the project area were not undertaken in accordance with that plan—a statement describing how, and why, those activities did not accord with the plan.
For each project area being reported on, and for each calendar year of the reporting period, the offsets report must include the following:
if planned burning was undertaken:
1. a statement of that fact; and
2. a description of the location, timing and extent of that planned burning; and
3. an indication of whether, and the extent to which, that planned burning satisfied section 18;
if planned burning was not undertaken:
1. a statement of that fact; and
2. the reasons why planned burning was not undertaken.
If the project proponent was required or elected, under Division 5 of Part 3, to create or revise a vegetation fuel type map during the reporting period, the offsets report must include the following:
a statement of that fact;
a description of which map or maps were revised, the date of revision for each map and the area covered by each map;
for each such map:
1. a copy of the map that was created and validated or revised and (if necessary) validated in accordance with that Division; and
2. if the map was created—a map combining that map and the spatial data layers showing in which rainfall zone or zones each area to which the map relates is located; and
3. if the map was revised—a statement of the reasons for which the map was revised; and
4. in either case—any ERF audit report relating to the validation of the map.
If, during the reporting period, any project area (including a subdivided project area) was removed from the project as a result of section 15 or 16, the offsets report must include, for each such project area:
a statement of that fact; and
a description of each area removed and the date of removal.
If, during the reporting period, a factor or parameter that is defined or calculated by reference to another instrument or writing is not the factor or parameter that is defined or calculated by reference to the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period in accordance with subsection 11(1), the offsets report about the project for the reporting period must include the following information for the factor or parameter:
the versions of the instrument or writing used;
the start and end dates of each use;
the reasons why it was not possible to define or calculate the factor or parameter by reference to the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period.
If, during the reporting period, a relevant weed species is detected in any project area, the offsets report must include, for each such project area:
a statement of that fact; and
the location of weed-affected areas in geospatial format; and
evidence of when and how the weed species was first treated; and
evidence of continuing treatment of the weed species; and
if the treatment of weed species is not possible due to circumstances beyond the project proponent’s reasonable control in any year, a statement of that fact and details of, and evidence relating to, those circumstances; and
if and when the weed species is eradicated, a statement of that fact and evidence to support that fact; and
if any area if removed form a project because of the detection of weed species, details of that removal.
For the purposes of this section, ERF audit report has the same meaning as in the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
Division 2—Record‑keeping requirements
39 Operation of this Division
For the purposes of paragraph 106(3)(c) of the Act, this Division sets out record‑keeping requirements for a savanna emissions avoidance project that is an eligible offsets project.
Note: Other record‑keeping requirements are set out in the CFI Rules.
40 Record‑keeping requirements
The project proponent must retain records of:
each SavCAM record‑keeping report; and
all data files that were used when calculating the net abatement amount.
Division 3— Monitoring requirements
41 Operation of this Division
For the purposes of paragraph 106(3)(d) of the Act, this Division sets out monitoring requirements for a savanna emissions avoidance project that is an eligible offsets project.
Note: Other monitoring requirements are set out in the CFI Rules.
42 Monitoring requirements
The project proponent for a savanna avoidance project must monitor for the presence of each relevant weed species in each project area in accordance with the project management plan for the project.
Division 4—Notification requirements
43 Operation of this Division
For the purposes of paragraph 80(1)(b) of the Act, this Division sets out notification requirements for a savanna emissions avoidance project that is an eligible offsets project.
44 Notification requirements
If a relevant weed species is detected in a project area for the first time, the project proponent must notify the Regulator, within 60 days of becoming aware of the detection of the weed species, the date of the detection, the name of the weed species detected, and the location (in geospatial format) of its detection.
Part 6—Partial reporting
45 Partial reporting
For the purposes of section 77A of the Act, an overall project may only be divided into parts that consist of one or more whole project areas.
Schedule 1—Emissions avoidance—calculation of adjusted contribution to net abatement amount for a calendar year
Division 1—Preliminary
1 Simplified outline of this Schedule
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.
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 recalculated 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 subdivided.
Division 2— Calculations
2 Calculation of adjusted contribution to net abatement amount from emissions avoidance for a calendar year, AEA,adj
For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of AEA,adj,y in subsection 36(1) of this instrument, 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:
calculating the previous year’s uncertainty buffer for the project area, BU,Prev, in tonnes CO2‑e, in accordance with clause 3; and
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 clause 4; and
calculating the uncertainty buffer cap for the project area for the calendar year, BU,Cap, in tonnes CO2‑e, in accordance with clause 5; and
determining which set of conditions set out in the table below is satisfied in relation to the project area for the calendar year; and
calculating, in accordance with the corresponding row of the table:
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
the current year’s uncertainty buffer for the project area, BU,Curr, in tonnes CO2‑e.
Calculation of adjusted contribution to net abatement amount from emissions avoidance
Note 1: Division 3 sets out adjustments to these calculations, which apply:
if a project area spans both rainfall zones (see clause 7); and
if a project does not undertake planned burning (see clause 8); and
if a project area is divided into 2 or more subdivided project areas (see clause 9).
Note 2: If, during a reporting period, the vegetation fuel type map is revised in accordance with section 22 of this instrument, 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 11(1) of this instrument. 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
For the purposes of paragraph 2(a), and subject to clause 12 (which deals with subdivided project areas), the previous year’s uncertainty buffer for the project area, BU,Prev, in tonnes CO2‑e, is:
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
otherwise—equal to zero.
Note: For the purposes of paragraph (a), the uncertainty buffer might have been calculated as the current year’s uncertainty buffer BU,Curr under this instrument or the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management— Sequestration and Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2026 or the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Emissions Avoidance) Methodology Determination 2018 or the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Savanna Fire Management—Sequestration and 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.
For the purposes of 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 24(2)(c) of this instrument was met. See paragraph 24(3)(c) of this instrument.
4 The contribution to the net abatement amount from emissions avoidance for a calendar year, AEA
For the purposes of paragraph 2(b), 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:
ĒB 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, calculated for that year using SavCAM.
5 The uncertainty buffer cap for a calendar year, BU,Cap
For the purposes of paragraph 2(c), the uncertainty buffer cap for the project area for a calendar year, BU,Cap, in tonnes CO2‑e, is given by the following equation:
YB is the number of years in the baseline period for the project area.
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 SavCAM.
Division 3— Adjustments to calculations
7 Adjustments resulting from project area spanning rainfall zones
If a project area has 2 project area rainfall parts, AEA,adj for the project area is instead calculated by:
calculating a value of AEA,adj in tonnes CO2‑e in accordance with this Schedule for each project area rainfall part as if it were a separate project area; and
summing the values so calculated.
8 Adjustments resulting from lack of fire activity
This section applies if planned burning for a project area was not undertaken in a calendar year.
For that calendar year, AEA,adj is taken to be zero.
9 Adjustments resulting from subdivided project areas
If a project area is divided into 2 or more subdivided project areas, then BU,Prev for each subdivided project area immediately after the subdivision takes effect is equal to the amount BU,Prev,Subdiv, in tonnes CO2‑e, given by the following equation:
ĒB,Subdiv is the mean annual baseline fire emissions for the subdivided project area, ĒB, in tonnes CO2-e, as calculated in accordance with clause 6 for the subdivided project area.
ĒB,Orig is the mean annual baseline fire emissions for the original project area, ĒB, in tonnes CO2-e, as calculated in accordance with clause 6, for the original project area.
BU,Prev,Orig is the previous year’s uncertainty buffer for the original project area, BU,Prev, as given by subclause 3(1) as if the project area had not been divided.