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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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  1. Home
  2. Climate change
  3. Emissions reduction
  4. Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme
  5. Methods for the Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCU) Scheme
  6. Farm forestry plantations method

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Farm forestry plantations method

 

This Methodology Determination (method) provides the rules for crediting emissions reductions to landholders who plant trees as permanent plantings or as rotational harvests on land previously clear of forest cover and used for agricultural purposes. As part of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), crediting is based on carbon sequestered in the plantations.

Read the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Measurement Based Methods for New Farm Forestry Plantations) Methodology Determination 2014.

Using the method

To use this method 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.

Until 1 June 2024, the eligibility requirements include meeting conditions (known as the water rule) designed to help manage the effects of commercial tree plantings on water availability in locations where average annual rainfall exceeds 600 millimetres. As of 1 June 2024, the water rule will be removed, and plantation forestry projects will no longer be required to meet these conditions.

Projects can meet the conditions if they:

  • do not start their crediting period before 1 June 2024
  • have a suitable water access entitlement
  • are in a region where the department determines the relevant state or territory government is adequately implementing National Water Initiative commitments to manage water interception by plantations
  • are in a region specified as one in which tree planting is unlikely to have a material adverse impact on water availability
    • View the specified regions map (PDF 14.1 MB)
    • View the maps' data layer on data.gov.au
  • are in a region where a water access entitlement cannot be obtained, and they can be demonstrated (supported by advice from a state or territory agency) to not have a material impact on water availability or water access entitlements, or  
  • can be shown to help manage dryland salinity
    • View the Salinity Guidelines (PDF 384 KB) | DOCX 90.6 KB) for how to demonstrate the planting mitigates dryland salinity.

Calculating the abatement

There is a Technical Reference Guide to assist project proponents using this method.

View the Technical Reference Guide for the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Measurement Based Methods for New Farm Forestry Plantations) Methodology Determination 2014 [645KB PDF]  [297KB DOCX].

For projects that include harvesting trees, project proponents must use the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) software to calculate components of their projects.

There is specific guidance for using FullCAM with this method:

View the  FullCAM Guidelines for Measurement Based Methods in New Farm Forestry Plantations method (PDF 3.2 MB) | (DOCX 2.7 MB).

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 2014 (PDF 110 KB) | (DOCX 51 KB).

The DOIC operated from 2010 until 2014 when it was replaced by the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC).

A minor variation to the method was made in 2015. ERAC advice is not required for minor variations.

See the public consultation and method draft on the Australian Government Trove archive.

Read more

  • Environmental data—including forest cover data layers and the CFI rainfall map—is available on data.gov.au
  • Emissions Reduction Fund
  • Method development and available methods
  • Changes to the water rule in the Amendment Rule and explanatory statement

Connect with us

  • Subscribe to updates about the ERF
  • Read emissions reduction news

Contact us

  • Email ACCUscheme@dcceew.gov.au
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