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:

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.