This Methodology Determination (method) provides the rules for crediting emissions reductions to landholders who regenerate native forest on land that has been cleared of native forest for pastoral use. Landholders must cease clearing vegetation and may also exclude livestock, change the timing and extent of grazing, or manage non-native plant species or feral animals. As part of the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF), crediting is based on carbon captured by regenerating native forests.
An amendment to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 in 2019 clarified timeframes for attaining forest cover to receive further credits.
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.
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 Native Forest from Managed Regrowth method [8.0MB PDF] [6.2MB 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 Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) conducts public consultation before giving advice about making or varying a method. Once finalised the ERAC advises the Minister on whether the new or varied method meets the offsets integrity standards.
The original method was endorsed by the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee (DOIC). The DOIC operated from 2010 until 2014 when it was replaced by the ERAC.
Read the DOIC’s advice to the Minister on making the method in 2013 [103KB PDF] [27KB DOCX].
See the public consultation and method draft on the Australian Government Trove archive.
A minor variation to the method was made in 2015. ERAC advice is not required on minor variations.
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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