This Methodology Determination (method) provides the rules for crediting emissions reductions to landholders who regenerate native forest where native forest has been suppressed for at least 10 years. As part of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), crediting is based on carbon captured by changing land management practices to help native forests to regrow on land where human activity has previously prevented regrowth.
An amendment to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 in 2018 clarified timeframes for attaining forest cover to receive further credits.
In 2019 the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (the Committee) published a review of two Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) methods that provide opportunities for people to obtain carbon credits by changing the management of their land to regenerate native forest.
Using the method
To use this method in your project and take part in the ERF, you need to apply to the Clean Energy Regulator. The Regulator develops the methods and manages project registration, compliance, and crediting emissions reductions for projects under the ERF.
Visit the Regulator’s website for:
- information on the method and how to use it
- project planning guidance, including eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Project proponents should read the Guidelines on stratification, evidence and records which support eligibility requirements for regeneration projects in the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 and key method eligibility requirements.
Calculating the abatement
Project proponents must use the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) software to calculate the carbon abatement of their projects.
There is specific guidance for using FullCAM with this method.
Read the FullCAM Guidelines for the Human-Induced Regeneration method [5.9MB PDF] [1.9MB DOCX]. (includes both options of 2020 FullCAM Public Release)
Download FullCAM.
Project proponents need to meet the requirements of the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) Mapping Guidelines for mapping project areas and carbon estimation areas.
Read the CFI Mapping Guidelines.
Consultation on the method
The original method was endorsed by the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee (DOIC).
Read the DOIC’s advice to the Minister on making the method in 2013 [279KB PDF] [44KB DOCX].
The DOIC operated from 2010 until 2014 when it was replaced by the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC). ERAC conducts public consultations before giving advice about making or varying a method. Once finalised ERAC advises the Minister on whether the new or varied method meets the offsets integrity standards.
Read the ERAC’s advice to the Minister on varying the method in 2016 [365KB PDF].
See the public consultations and method drafts on our Consultation hub.
A minor variation to the method was made in 2015. ERAC advice is not required for minor variations.
A minor variation was also made in 2016 to introduce a number of changes, most importantly that for all future projects FullCAM should be used rather than the Reforestation Modelling Tool (RMT). Project proponents who registered under the previous version of the method can continue using the RMT.[RK3]
A minor variation to the method was made in 2018 and to 6 other methods to reflect the retirement of the online Carbon Farming Initiative Mapping Tool (CFI Mapping Tool).
Read more
- Environmental data—including forest cover data layers—is available on data.gov.au
- This method is enabled by the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 which also enables the 2015 Rule and 2011 Regulations
- Read about the Emissions Reduction Fund, including our department’s role.
- Read about method development and available methods.
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