Results updated 19 January 2022
The Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2022 was registered on 19 January 2022.
The method credits emissions reductions from additional carbon stored in plantations, harvested wood products, and permanent forests.
Read the method.
See the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) advice to the Minister on our department’s website.
Published responses
View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.
Overview
In late 2020, the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction tasked the Clean Energy Regulator with developing a new plantation forestry method under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
A plantation forestry project accumulates or sequesters carbon as trees grow, reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
The new plantation forestry method:
builds on the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative— Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2017
provides more opportunities for the plantation forestry industry to participate in the ERF, while maintaining the method’s integrity
retains 2 activities (with targeted changes to increase flexibility):
establishing a new plantation
converting an existing plantation from a short to long rotation
includes 2 new activities to retain forest on land (in situations where it would have otherwise converted to non-forest land use):
continuing plantation forestry activities
transitioning to permanent not-for-harvest forests.
Participants can earn Australian Carbon Credit Units for emissions stored by their project.
Why we are consulting
The Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee is seeking feedback on a proposed new methodology determination under the Emissions Reduction Fund:
The proposed method would enable participants (who conduct projects that store carbon in plantation or permanent forests) to generate Australian Carbon Credit Units.
The Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction must consider a range of factors when deciding whether to make a new method. This includes whether the method’s activities could have any adverse social, environmental, or economic impacts.
Your feedback might cover any adverse impacts that are likely to arise from carrying out a plantation forestry project under the proposed new method.
Our department is also seeking feedback on amendments to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 to support this method. See proposed amendments in the draft simple method guide.
If the Minister makes the 2021 plantation forestry method, it is proposed that the 2017 plantation forestry method would be revoked. New projects would no longer be registered under the 2017 method. Current projects will be able to transfer to the new method.
Consultation documents
Draft Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2021(738KB PDF) (229 KB DOCX)
Draft Simple Method Guide for the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Plantation Forestry) Methodology Determination 2021 (1.3MB PDF) 3.9MB DOCX
Draft FullCAM guidelines—Requirements for the use of 2016 FullCAM with the 2021 plantation forestry method (2.3MB PDF) (2.4MB DOCX)
Draft forest management plan guidance (320 KB PDF) (1.3 MB DOCX)
Draft financial assessment guidance (424 KB PDF) 1.3 MB DOCX
The draft forest management plan guidance assists proponents and independent Registered Forestry Professionals to prepare and review forest management plans, per 2021 plantation forestry method requirements.
The draft financial assessment guidance assists proponents, and qualified and independent persons, to prepare and review financial assessments under Schedules 3 and 4 of the 2021 plantation forestry method.
