Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Designated Verified Carbon Standard Projects) Methodology Determination 2015
I, Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment, make the following determination.
Dated 17:3:2015
Greg Hunt
Greg Hunt
Minister for the Environment
Contents
—Preliminary 4
Name..... 4
Commencement............................................................................................................................ 4
Authority...................................................................................................................................... 4
Duration 4
Definitions.................................................................................................................................... 4
—Designated Verified Carbon Standard projects 7
Designated Verified Carbon Standard projects............................................................................. 7
—Project requirements 8
—General requirements 8
Operation of this Part................................................................................................................... 8
—Information provided to Regulator 8
Information supported by evidence.............................................................................................. 8
Spatial information....................................................................................................................... 8
Tree species information............................................................................................................... 8
Baseline harvest information........................................................................................................ 8
Project scenario information......................................................................................................... 9
—Other requirements 9
Verified Carbon Units.................................................................................................................. 9
No re-harvest events..................................................................................................................... 9
No land conversion events........................................................................................................... 9
No harvest events after 2028........................................................................................................ 9
Removal of biomass and thinning................................................................................................ 9
—Net abatement amount 10
—Operation of this Part 10
Operation of this Part................................................................................................................. 10
References to factors and parameters from external sources....................................................... 10
—Project commencement 10
Project commencement............................................................................................................... 10
—Calculating net baseline emissions 10
—General 10
General.. 10
—Carbon stock extracted from project area 11
General.. 11
Mean merchantable volume of each species in each stratum....................................................... 11
Mean merchantable volume in each land parcel.......................................................................... 12
Mean volume of extracted timber for each species in each land parcel....................................... 13
Mean carbon stock of harvested biomass for each species in each land parcel........................... 13
Biomass conversion factor......................................................................................................... 13
Mean carbon stock of extracted timber for each species in each land parcel............................... 14
Carbon stock of logging slash in each land parcel...................................................................... 14
Carbon stock of extracted timber from each land parcel............................................................. 14
Carbon stock for each harvested wood product in each land parcel............................................ 15
—Carbon stock in existence in harvested wood products at end of crediting period 15
General.. 15
Carbon stock in harvested wood products in existence at end of crediting period—decay factor method 15
Carbon stock in harvested wood products in existence at end of crediting period—maximum loss method 16
Calculating carbon stock in harvested wood products in existence at end of crediting period—conservative estimate 16
Carbon stock in existence in harvested wood products at end of crediting period...................... 17
—Carbon stock in forest regrowth after harvest 17
General.. 17
Carbon stock in regrowth each land parcel................................................................................. 17
Carbon stock in regrowth in all land parcels............................................................................... 18
Carbon stock of harvested biomass for all species in each land parcel....................................... 18
Loss from logging slash and harvested wood product decay over the crediting period.............. 18
—Net baseline emissions 19
General.. 19
Net carbon stock change—all land parcels................................................................................. 19
Net baseline emissions—all land parcels.................................................................................... 19
Emissions before project commencement................................................................................... 20
—Calculating net project emissions 21
—General 21
General.. 21
—Net sequestration 21
General.. 21
Average growth rate in land parcel............................................................................................. 21
Carbon stock increases due to growth in project scenario.......................................................... 21
—Natural disturbances 22
General.. 22
Detection of natural disturbances................................................................................................ 22
Establishing a grid overlay......................................................................................................... 23
Sample plots............................................................................................................................... 23
Calculating biomass proportion.................................................................................................. 23
Calculating average tree proportion............................................................................................ 24
Calculating margin of error for tree proportion........................................................................... 25
Calculating probable limits of error for tree proportion.............................................................. 25
Calculating conservative estimate of tree proportion................................................................... 26
Proportion of biomass killed...................................................................................................... 26
Notional area of biomass killed in land parcel............................................................................ 26
Carbon stock in debris pool following natural disturbance......................................................... 27
Carbon dioxide emissions.......................................................................................................... 27
Emissions from carbon stock burnt............................................................................................ 29
Net project emissions................................................................................................................. 31
—Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount 31
Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount....................................................................... 31
—Reporting, record keeping and monitoring requirements 33
—General 33
Application................................................................................................................................. 33
—Monitoring requirements 33
Project monitoring...................................................................................................................... 33
—Record-keeping requirements 33
Records that must be created and kept........................................................................................ 33
—Offsets report requirements 33
Determination of certain factors and parameters......................................................................... 33
Part 1—Preliminary
1 Name
This is the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative—Designated Verified Carbon Standard Projects) Methodology Determination 2015.
2 Commencement
This determination is taken to have come into force on 1 January 2013.
3 Authority
This determination is made under subsection 106(1) of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
4 Duration
This determination remains in force for the period that:
(a) begins when this instrument commences; and
(b) ends on the day before this instrument would otherwise be repealed under subsection 50(1) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
5 Definitions
In this determination:
Act means the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011.
baseline (BSL)means the scenario in which harvest events meeting the requirements of sections 14 to 16 would occur in the project area if the project were not carried out.
biomass means vegetation-derived organic matter.
carbon stock means an amount of carbon.
C means carbon.
CO2‑e means carbon dioxide equivalent.
debris means above-ground dead plant material.
designated Verified Carbon Standard project—see section 6.
forest means land of a minimum area of 0.2 of a hectare on which trees:
(a) have attained, or have the potential to attain, a crown cover of at least 20% across the area of land; and
(b) have reached, or have the potential to reach, a height of at least 2 metres.
harvest date means the calendar year in which a land parcel would be harvested if the project were not carried out.
harvested wood product means pulpwood or sawlog.
land parcel means an area of land at no specific location in a stratum in which a harvest event would occur in a particular year of the crediting period if the project were not carried out.
Note For example, a 50 hectare land parcel in Stratum A, which has an area of 100 hectares, could be any 50 hectares of Stratum A that would be harvested in 2022 if the project were not carried out.
logging slash means debris from a harvest event remaining in a land parcel.
merchantable volume means the maximum amount of timber that could be extracted for sale.
National Inventory Report means the most recently published document that is:
(a) known as the National Inventory Report; and
(b) prepared by the Department in fulfilment of obligations that Australia has under the Climate Change Convention.
NGER Measurement Determination means the applicable determination made under subsection 10(3) of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
NGER Regulations means the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Regulations 2008.
project scenario (PRJ) means the avoidance of all harvest events in all land parcels in the crediting period.
stratum means an area of land in the project area.
Student t-test means a statistical hypothesis test in which the test statistic follows a Student's t distribution if the null hypothesis is supported.
Validation Report means an independent report of that name assessing a Verified Carbon Standard project against a Verified Carbon Standard methodology.
Verification Report means an independent report of that name assessing a Verified Carbon Standard project’s actual emission reductions against a Verified Carbon Standard methodology.
Verified Carbon Standard means the independent, non-profit organisation generally known as the ‘Verified Carbon Standard’.
Verified Carbon Standard modelling period means the period over which the project’s carbon stocks were modelled when it was a Verified Carbon Standard project.
Verified Carbon Standard project means a project approved, or previously approved, by the Verified Carbon Standard.
Verified Carbon Standard project start date means the day on which a Verified Carbon Standard project started.
Verified Carbon Unit means a unit issued by the Verified Carbon Standard to Verified Carbon standard projects.
Note Other words and expressions used in this determination have the meaning given by the Act. These include:
crediting period
eligible carbon abatement
eligible offsets project
emission
greenhouse gas
natural disturbance
offsets project
offsets report
project
project area
project proponent
Regulator
reporting period
sequestration offsets project.
Part 2—Designated Verified Carbon Standard projects
6 Designated Verified Carbon Standard projects
(1) For paragraph 106(1)(a) of the Act, this determination applies to a sequestration offsets project that:
(a) is a designated Verified Carbon Standard project for the purposes of sub-item 388A(1) of Schedule 1 to the Carbon Farming Initiative Amendment Act 2014; and
(b) results in eligible carbon abatement; and
(c) was registered under the Verified Carbon Standard before 18 June 2014.
(2) A project covered by subsection (1) is a designated Verified Carbon Standard project.
Part 3—Project requirements
Division 1—General requirements
7 Operation of this Part
For paragraph 106(1)(b) of the Act, this Part sets out requirements that must be met for a designated Verified Carbon Standard project to be an eligible offsets project.
Division 2—Information provided to Regulator
8 Information supported by evidence
(1) The information provided to the Regulator in accordance with this Division must be supported by evidence.
(2) The evidence may comprise maps, spreadsheets or other documents.
(3) The evidence must be contained or referenced in:
(a) the Validation Report for the project; or
(b) a Verification Report for the project.
9 Spatial information
The project proponent must provide the Regulator with the following spatial information:
(a) the location of each stratum in the project area;
(b) the area, in hectares, of each stratum;
(c) the location of each sample plot in each stratum;
(d) the stratum each land parcel is in;
(e) the area in hectares of each land parcel.
10 Tree species information
The project proponent must provide the Regulator with the following information for each tree species harvested in the baseline:
(a) the basic wood density, in tonnes of dry matter per cubic metre, of each species in the project area; and
(b) the merchantable volume, in cubic metres, of each tree species in each sample plot in each stratum.
11 Baseline harvest information
The project proponent must provide the Regulator with the following baseline harvest information:
(a) the year in which each land parcel would be harvested if the project were not carried out;
(b) the proportion of each harvested wood product extracted from each land parcel;
(c) the proportion of biomass extracted from each land parcel;
(d) the projected growth, in cubic metres per hectare, in each land parcel before the harvest in the land parcel;
(e) the annual average rate of carbon stock increase, in tonnes C per hectare per year, in each land parcel.
12 Project scenario information
The project proponent must provide the Regulator with the following project scenario information:
(a) the carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in each land parcel at the end of the Verified Carbon Standard modelling period;
(b) the carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in each land parcel at the harvest date.
Division 3—Other requirements
13 Verified Carbon Units
The project proponent must provide the Regulator with evidence of:
(a) the most recent day in respect of which Verified Carbon Units were issued for the project; and
Note For example, if Verified Carbon Units were issued for the project for abatement occurring between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012, the most recent day in respect of which Verified Carbon Units were issued for the project is 30 June 2012.
(b) the number of Verified Carbon Units issued for the project; and
(c) the Verified Carbon Standard project start date; and
(d) the Verified Carbon Standard modelling period.
14 No re-harvest events
In the baseline, a land parcel may only be scheduled to be harvested in one year in the crediting period.
Note For example, if a land parcel is to be harvested in 2014 in the baseline scenario, it cannot be scheduled to be re-harvested in any other year in the crediting period.
15 No land conversion events
In the baseline, a land parcel must not have a scheduled harvest event with the result that the land parcel is converted to a non-forest land use.
Note For example, a land parcel cannot be scheduled to be harvested and converted to grazing land.
16 No harvest events after 2028
In the baseline, a land parcel must not be scheduled to be harvested after 31 December 2028.
17 Removal of biomass and thinning
(1) Live trees and other live biomass must not be removed from the project area.
(2) Dead wood may be removed from the project area.
(3) Thinning is not permitted in the project area.
Part 4—Net abatement amount
Division 1—Operation of this Part
18 Operation of this Part
For paragraph 106(1)(c) of the Act, this Part specifies the method for working out the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for a reporting period for a designated Verified Carbon Standard project that is an eligible offsets project.
19 References to factors and parameters from external sources
(1) If a calculation in this determination includes a factor or parameter that is defined or calculated by reference to another instrument or writing, the factor or parameter to be used for a reporting period is the factor or parameter referred to in, or calculated by reference to, the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if:
(a) the determination specifies otherwise; or
(b) it is not possible to define or calculate the factor or parameter by reference to the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period.
Division 2—Project commencement
20 Project commencement
(1) The project proponent must determine the day on which the project commences in accordance with this section.
(2) The project commences on the later of:
(a) January 2013; or
(b) the day after the most recent day in respect of which Verified Carbon Units were issued for the project.
Note For example, if Verified Carbon Units were issued for the project in respect of abatement occurring until 31 March 2013, the project commences on 1 April 2013.
Division 3—Calculating net baseline emissions
Subdivision 1—General
21 General
(1) The project proponent must calculate the project’s net baseline emissions by completing the equations in this Division.
(2) The information provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3 and listed in the left-hand column of Table A must be used when completing the equations in the right hand column.
Note The information provided to the Regulator set out in Table A must be supported by evidence contained or referenced in a Validation Report or Verification Report for the project. See subsection 8(3).
Table A
Information provided to Regulator
Parameter
Equation
Area, in hectares, of each stratum
25
Area, in hectares, of each land parcel
13, 15, 19, 25
Basic wood density, in tonnes of dry matter per cubic metre, of each tree species in the project area.
5
Projected growth before harvest, in cubic metres per hectare, in each land parcel.
2B
Merchantable volume, in cubic metres, of each tree species in each sample plot in each stratum.
1
Proportion of biomass extracted from each land parcel.
3
Year in the crediting period in which each land parcel would be harvested if the project were not carried out.
6, 9, 12, 31
Proportion of each harvested wood product extracted from each land parcel.
8
Average annual rate of carbon stock increase, in tonnes C per hectare per year, in each land parcel.
12
Number of Voluntary Carbon Units issued for the project before project commencement.
17
Carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in each land parcel at the harvest date.
18
Carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in each land parcel at the end of the Verified Carbon Standard modelling period.
18
Subdivision 2—Carbon stock extracted from project area
22 General
(1) The carbon stock extracted from the project area in the baseline is calculated in accordance with this Subdivision.
(2) Unless otherwise specified, for the purposes of this Part, projected growth in a land parcel is taken to be a species ().
23 Mean merchantable volume of each species in each stratum
(1) The mean merchantable volume of each species in each stratum must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 1
Where:
=
the mean merchantable volume, in cubic metres per hectare, of species in stratum .
the total number of sample plots in stratum .
the merchantable volume, in cubic metres, of species in sample plot in stratum —provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
the area, in hectares, of sample plot .
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to projected growth.
24 Mean merchantable volume in each land parcel
(1) The mean merchantable volume of each species in each land parcel must be calculated:
(a) if the mean merchantable volume of the species in a stratum was calculated using Equation 1—using Equation 2A; or
(b) if projected growth was provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3—using Equation 2B.
Equation 2A
Where:
the mean merchantable volume, in cubic metres per hectare, of species in land parcel.
=
the mean merchantable volume, in cubic metres per hectare, of species in stratum in which the land parcel is located—from Equation 1.
Equation 2B
Where:
the mean merchantable volume, in cubic metres per hectare, of species in land parcel .
the projected growth before harvest, in cubic metres per hectare, in land parcel —provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
(2) The mean merchantable volume of all species in each land parcel must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 2C
Where:
the mean merchantable volume, in cubic metres per hectare, of all species in land parcel.
=
the mean merchantable volume, in cubic metres per hectare, of species in land parcel —from Equation 2A or 2B.
25 Mean volume of extracted timber for each species in each land parcel
The mean volume of extracted timber for each species in each land parcel must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 3
Where:
the mean volume of extracted timber, in cubic metres per hectare, for species in land parcel .
the mean merchantable volume, in cubic metres per hectare, for species in land parcel —from Equation 2A or 2B.
the proportion of biomass extracted from land parcel—provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
26 Mean carbon stock of harvested biomass for each species in each land parcel
The mean carbon stock of harvested biomass for each species in each land parcel must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 4
Where:
the mean carbon stock of harvested biomass, in tonnes C per hectare, for species in land parcel .
the mean volume of extracted timber, in cubic metres per hectare, for species in land parcel —from Equation 3.
biomass conversion and expansion factor, in tonnes of dry matter per cubic metre—from Table B.
0.5, being the fraction of carbon in biomass.
27 Biomass conversion factor
The biomass conversion factor for each species in each land parcel is given in the following table:
Table B
The mean merchantable volume, in cubic metres per hectare, of all species in land parcel—from Equation 2C
Biomass conversion and expansion factor (
200
0.8
28 Mean carbon stock of extracted timber for each species in each land parcel
The mean carbon stock of extracted timber for each species in each land parcel must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 5
Where:
the mean carbon stock of extracted timber, in tonnes C per hectare, for species in land parcel .
the mean volume of extracted timber, in cubic metres per hectare, for species in land parcel —from Equation 3.
(a) for projected growth in a land parcel—basic wood density is 0.63 tonnes of dry matter per cubic metre; and
(b) otherwise—basic wood density, in tonnes of dry matter per cubic metre, of species —provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
0.5, being the fraction of carbon in biomass.
Note Projected growth in a land parcel is taken to be a species in this Part. See subsection 22(2).
29 Carbon stock of logging slash in each land parcel
The mean carbon stock of logging slash remaining as debris at the end of the crediting period in each land parcel, in tonnes C per hectare, must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 6
Where:
the carbon stock of logging slash, in tonnes C per hectare, remaining as debris at the end of the crediting period for all species in land parcel .
the mean carbon stock of harvested biomass, in tonnes C per hectare, for species in land parcel —from Equation 4.
the mean carbon stock of extracted timber, in tonnes C per hectare, for species in land parcel —from Equation 5.
0.1being the debris decay factor.
=
the number of years between the harvest in land parcel and the end of the crediting period.
30 Carbon stock of extracted timber from each land parcel
The carbon stock of extracted timber from each land parcel must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 7
Where:
the carbon stock of extracted timber, in tonnes C per hectare, for all tree species in land parcel.
the mean carbon stock of extracted timber, in tonnes C per hectare, for species in land parcel —from Equation 5.
31 Carbon stock for each harvested wood product in each land parcel
The carbon stock of each kind of harvested wood product, in tonnes C per hectare, for each land parcel must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 8
Where:
=
the carbon stock of harvested wood product k, in tonnes C per hectare, resulting from the harvest in land parcel.
the carbon stock of harvested wood products, in tonnes C per hectare, for all tree species in land parcel—from Equation 7.
the proportion of harvested wood product extracted from land parcel—provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
Subdivision 3—Carbon stock in existence in harvested wood products at end of crediting period
32 General
(1) The total carbon stock in existence in harvested wood products at the end of the crediting period is calculated in accordance with this Subdivision.
(2) The project proponent must use the values in Table C in Equations 9 and 10 in this Subdivision.
Table C
Harvested wood product ()
Wood waste ()
Decay factor
()
Minimum carbon stock in existence at end of crediting period ()
Sawlog
0.19
0.033
0.8
Pulpwood
0.19
0.333
0.1
33 Carbon stock in harvested wood products in existence at end of crediting period—decay factor method
For each harvested wood product from each land parcel, the carbon stock in existence at the end of the crediting period must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 9
Where:
the carbon stock of harvested wood product k, in tonnes C per hectare, from land parcel in existence at the end of the crediting period.
the carbon stock of harvested wood product k, in tonnes C per hectare, resulting from harvest in land parcel—from Equation 8.
the proportion of biomass carbon lost from wood products after milling operations for harvested wood product —from Table C.
=
the decay factor for harvested wood product—from Table C.
=
the number of years between the harvest in land parcel and the end of the crediting period.
34 Carbon stock in harvested wood products in existence at end of crediting period—maximum loss method
For each harvested wood product, the minimum carbon stock remaining in each land parcel at the end of the crediting period must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 10
Where:
minimum carbon stock for harvested wood product k, in tonnes C per hectare, remaining in land parcel at the end of the crediting period.
the carbon stock of harvested wood product k, in tonnes C per hectare, resulting from the harvest in land parcel—from Equation 8.
proportion of biomass carbon lost from harvested wood products after milling operations for wood product —from Table C.
the minimum proportion of harvested wood product k remaining at the end of the crediting period—from Table C.
35 Calculating carbon stock in harvested wood products in existence at end of crediting period—conservative estimate
(1) For each harvested wood product extracted from each land parcel, a conservative estimate of the carbon stock in the harvested wood product in existence at the end of the crediting period must be made in accordance with this section.
Note The conservative estimate takes the higher of the values calculated using Equation 9 and 10. This is conservative because the more carbon stock exists at the end of the crediting period, the lower the emissions in the baseline and therefore the lower the emissions that have been avoided in the project scenario.
(2) If the value calculated using Equation 9 is greater or equal to the value calculated using Equation 10, the carbon stock in the harvested wood product in existence at the end of the crediting period () is the value calculated using Equation 9 ().
(3) If the value calculated using Equation 9 is less than the value calculated using Equation10, the carbon stock in the harvested wood product in existence at the end of the crediting period () is the value calculated using Equation 10 ().
36 Carbon stock in existence in harvested wood products at end of crediting period
The carbon stock in existence in all harvested wood products at the end of the crediting period must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 11
Where:
the carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, of all harvested wood products from land parcel present at the end of the crediting period.
the carbon stock of harvested wood product k, in tonnes C per hectare, resulting from harvest in land parcel—determined in accordance with section 35.
Subdivision 4—Carbon stock in forest regrowth after harvest
37 General
The carbon stock in forest regrowth after harvests in the baseline is calculated in accordance with this Subdivision.
38 Carbon stock in regrowth each land parcel
For each land parcel, the carbon stock in regrowth in the crediting period, in tonnes C per hectare, after the harvest in the land parcel must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 12
Where:
the carbon stock in regrowth, in tonnes C per hectare, in the crediting period after the harvest in land parcel .
=
the average annual rate of carbon stock increase, in tonnes C per hectare per year, in land parcel—provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
=
the number of years between the harvest in land parcel and the end of the crediting period.
39 Carbon stock in regrowth in all land parcels
The carbon stock in regrowth, in tonnes C, in all land parcels must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 13
Where:
the carbon stock in regrowth, in tonnes C, in the crediting period in all land parcels.
the area, in hectares, of land parcel —provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
the carbon stock in regrowth, in tonnes C per hectare, after a harvest in land parcel —from Equation 12.
40 Carbon stock of harvested biomass for all species in each land parcel
The mean carbon stock of harvested biomass for all species in each land parcel must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 14
Where:
the mean carbon stock of harvested biomass, in tonnes C per hectare, for all species in land parcel .
the mean carbon stock of harvested biomass, in tonnes C per hectare, for species in land parcel —from Equation 4.
41 Loss from logging slash and harvested wood product decay over the crediting period
The loss of carbon stock, in tonnes C, from all land parcels over the crediting period must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 15
Where:
the loss of carbon stock, in tonnes C, from all land parcels over the crediting period.
the area, in hectares, of land parcel —provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
the mean carbon stock of harvested biomass, in tonnes C per hectare, for all species in land parcel —from Equation 14.
=
the carbon stock of logging slash, in tonnes C per hectare, remaining as debris at the end of the crediting period for all species in land parcel —from Equation 6.
the carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, of all harvested wood products from land parcel present at the end of the crediting period—from Equation 11.
Subdivision 5—Net baseline emissions
42 General
Net baseline emissions are calculated in accordance with this Subdivision.
43 Net carbon stock change—all land parcels
The net carbon stock change in all land parcels over the crediting period must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 16
Where:
the net carbon stock change, in tonnes C, in all land parcels over the crediting period.
the loss of carbon stock, in tonnes C, from all land parcels over the crediting period—from Equation 15.
the carbon stock in regrowth, in tonnes C, in the crediting period in all land parcels—from Equation 13.
44 Net baseline emissions—all land parcels
For each reporting period, net baseline emissions must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 17
Where:
the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in the baseline scenario in reporting period .
the loss of carbon stock, in tonnes C, from all land parcels over the crediting period—from Equation 16.
=
the number Voluntary Carbon Units issued for the project—provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
(a) the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in the period between the Verified Carbon Standard project start date and project commencement—from section 45 if section 45 applies; or
(b) otherwise—zero.
the number of years in the crediting period.
the number of years in reporting period.
Note The factor represents the ratio of molecular weights of carbon dioxide to carbon.
Note is equivalent to an amount in tonnes CO2-e
45 Emissions before project commencement
(1) This section applies if there is a land parcel in the project area with a harvest date earlier than project commencement.
(2) The project proponent must calculate the greenhouse gas emissions before project commencement, in tonnes CO2-e, from all land parcels with harvest dates earlier than project commencement () by completing every relevant equation in this Part for those land parcels.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2):
(a) where an equation contains the subscript , the project proponent must substitute for , where is the period between the Verified Carbon Standard project start date and project commencement; and
(b) references to the reporting period are taken to be references to the period between the Verified Carbon Standard project start date and project commencement; and
(c) the project proponent must provide the Regulator with the information prescribed by Division 2 in relation to each land parcel with a harvest date earlier than project commencement; and
(d) the project proponent must not complete Equation 17; and
(e) instead of completing Equation 17, the project proponent must complete the following equation:
Equation 17A
Where:
the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in the period between the Verified Carbon Standard project start date and project commencement.
the loss of carbon stock, in tonnes C, from all land parcels over the crediting period—from Equation 16.
the number of years in the crediting period.
the number of years in the period between the Verified Carbon Standard project start date and project commencement.
Note The factor represents the ratio of molecular weights of carbon dioxide to carbon.
(4) If the project proponent does not provide the Regulator with the information prescribed by Division 3.2 in relation to a land parcel with a harvest date earlier than project commencement, the value for is zero.
Division 4—Calculating net project emissions
Subdivision 1—General
46 General
The project proponent must calculate the project’s net emissions in the project scenario by completing the equations in this Division.
Subdivision 2—Net sequestration
47 General
Carbon stock increases in the project scenario are calculated in accordance with this Subdivision.
48 Average growth rate in land parcel
For each land parcel, the annualised growth rate after harvest must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 18
Where:
the annualised growth rate after harvest, in tonnes C per hectare per year, for land parcel .
=
the carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in land parcel at the end of the Verified Carbon Standard modelling period—provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3
=
the carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in land parcel at the harvest date—provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3
the number of years in the crediting period.
49 Carbon stock increases due to growth in project scenario
For each reporting period, carbon stock increases in the project area in the project scenario must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 19
Where:
the carbon stock increases since harvest, in tonnes CO2e, in the project scenario in reporting period .
the annualised growth rate after harvest, in tonnes C per hectare per year, for land parcel —from Equation 18.
=
the area, in hectares, in land parcel —provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
the number of years in reporting period.
Note The factor represents the ratio of molecular weights of carbon dioxide to carbon.
Subdivision 3—Natural disturbances
50 General
(1) Emissions from biomass killed by natural disturbances in the project area are calculated in accordance with this Subdivision.
(2) The project proponent must calculate the emissions from biomass killed in the natural disturbance before submitting the next offsets report.
51 Detection of natural disturbances
(1) This section applies if:
(a) a natural disturbance has been detected; and
(b) the natural disturbance has, or is likely to have, killed trees in more than 5% of the project area.
(2) The project proponent must:
(a) identify the natural disturbance on a map; and
(b) calculate the area, in hectares, of land in each stratum that has been affected by the natural disturbance.
(3) The natural disturbance is taken to have led to canopy decline in the area affected by the natural disturbance unless the project proponent is able to assess, in accordance with subsection (4), that there has been no canopy decline.
(4) For subsection (3):
(a) the assessment must be based on remotely-sensed image of the affected area from:
(i) no earlier than 6 months before the natural disturbance; and
(ii) no later than 6 months after the natural disturbance; and
(b) the resolution of the images must be at least 30m × 30m.
(5) The proportion of biomass killed by the natural disturbance is:
(a) if there has been no canopy decline—zero;
(b) if there has been canopy decline:
(i) if the project proponent estimates the proportion of biomass killed by sampling the area affected in accordance with sections 53 to 55—the proportion given by Equation 20; or
(ii) otherwise—100%.
(6) In this section:
canopy decline means a loss of an area of canopy cover equivalent to at least 5% of the project area.
52 Establishing a grid overlay
(1) This section applies if the project proponent elects to estimate the proportion of biomass killed in accordance with sections 52 to 55 (see subparagraph 50(5)(b)(i)).
(2) A grid overlay over the affected area must be established in accordance with this section.
(3) The grid must consist of square cells.
(4) There must be at least 5 grid intersects within each affected area in each stratum.
(5) An anchor point for the grid must be obtained by randomly selecting an easting and northing within the ranges of easting and northing coordinates for the affected area.
(6) The easting and northing coordinates referred to in subsection (4) must be from the Map Grid of Australia, known as MGA94, or any Australian standard that replaces MGA94.
(7) The orientation of the grid must be determined by randomly selecting an angle between zero and 89 degrees.
(8) Each grid intersect must be assigned a unique identifier.
53 Sample plots
(1) This section applies if the project proponent elects to estimate the proportion of biomass killed in accordance with sections 52 to 55 (see subparagraph 50(5)(b)(i)).
(2) Sample plots must be located at each grid intersect established in accordance with section 52.
(3) Plots must have:
(a) a fixed orthogonal area; and
(b) a minimum size of 0.01ha.
(4) All plots in the affected area must have the same shape.
(5) The plots must be either circular or rectangular.
(6) If the plots are circular, they must be established so that:
(a) the centre of the plot is the actual plot location; and
(b) the boundary of the plot is defined by the circumference.
(7) If the plots are rectangular, they must be established so that the actual plot location has the same relative position in each rectangular plot in the disturbed area.
(8) In this section:
relative position means the most north-westerly, north-easterly, south-easterly or south-westerly corner of a rectangular plot.
orthogonal area means the area in a horizontal plane, not a sloping plane. Any measurements of length (e.g. the length of the side of a rectangular plot) must be the horizontal distance, not the slope distance.
54 Calculating biomass proportion
(1) This section applies if the project proponent elects to estimate the proportion of biomass killed in accordance with sections 52 to 55 (see subparagraph 50(5)(b)(i)).
(2) Every living tree and every dead tree in a sample plot must have its stem diameter measured at 1.3m aboveground (DBH) and status (dead or living) recorded:
(a) no earlier than 6 months after the detection of the natural disturbance; and
(b) not before it is safe to enter the area affected by the natural disturbance.
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to trees belonging to a class that was not included in biomass surveys conducted under the Verified Carbon Standard.
Note For example, if trees in a sample plot with a diameter of less than 20cm were excluded from a biomass survey of the same sample plot conducted under the Verified Carbon Standard, those trees do not have to be counted.
(4) The basal area of each measured tree must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 20A
Where:
the basal area of tree in sample plot in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period .
the stem diameter of tree in sample plot in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period .
(5) The proportion of biomass killed within each sample plot must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 20B
Where:
the proportion of biomass killed in sample plotin disturbed area in stratum in reporting period .
the basal area of tree in sample plot in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period .
(6) In this section, class means a group of trees sharing a common characteristic such as species or stem diameter.
55 Calculating average tree proportion
The average proportion of biomass killed must be calculated for each stratum using the following equation:
Equation 21
Where:
the average proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period
a sample plot sp within the disturbed area in stratum in reporting period .
the proportion of biomass killed in sample plot in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period —from Equation 20B.
The total number of plots within the disturbed area in stratum in reporting period .
56 Calculating margin of error for tree proportion
The margin of error for the proportion of biomass killed must be calculated for each stratum using the following equation:
Equation 22
Where:
the margin of error for the proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period
the critical value of the t-distribution for a Student t-test, using n-1 degrees of freedom at the P=0.05 level of significance.
the standard deviation of the average proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period
the total number of plots in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period
57 Calculating probable limits of error for tree proportion
The probable limits of error at the P=0.05 level of significance for the proportion of biomass killed must be calculated for each stratum using the following equation:
Equation 23
Where:
the probable limits of error for the proportion of biomass killed () at the P=0.05 level of significance in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period
the margin of error for the proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period —from Equation 22.
the average proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period —from Equation 21.
Note The factor of 100 converts into a percentage.
58 Calculating conservative estimate of tree proportion
The conservative estimate of the proportion of biomass killed in each stratum must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 24
Where:
the conservative estimate of the proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period .
the average proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period —from Equation 21.
the margin of error for the proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period —from Equation 22.
59 Proportion of biomass killed
(1) The proportion of biomass killed in each disturbed area in each stratum in each reporting period () must be determined in accordance with this section.
(2) If the probable limits of error () at the P=0.05 level of significance are:
(a) equal to or less than 10%—the proportion of biomass killed is the average proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period —from Equation 21;
(b) between 10% and 50%—the proportion trees of killed is the conservative estimate of the proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period —from Equation 24;
(c) equal to or greater than 50%—either:
(i) the sampling process must be continued with an additional grid; or
(ii) the proportion of biomass killed is 100%.
60 Notional area of biomass killed in land parcel
For each land parcel in a stratum affected by a natural disturbance, the extent, in hectares, of the notional area of biomass killed by a natural disturbance must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 25
Where:
the area, in hectares, of land in land parcel affected by natural disturbance in reporting period
the area, in hectares, of land parcel—provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
=
the area, in hectares, of stratum —provided to the Regulator in accordance with Part 3.
the area, in hectares, of land in stratum affected by natural disturbance —from paragraph 51(2)(b).
=
the proportion of biomass killed in disturbed area in stratum in reporting period —from section 59.
61 Carbon stock in debris pool following natural disturbance
For each land parcel in a stratum affected by a natural disturbance, the carbon stock, in tonnes C, in the debris pool following the natural disturbance must be calculated:
(a) if the natural disturbance was a fire—using Equation 26A; or
(b) if the natural disturbance was not a fire—using Equation 26B.
Equation 26A
Where:
the carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in the debris pool following a natural disturbance in land parcel in reporting period .
the mean carbon stock of extracted timber, in tonnes C per hectare, in land parcel —from Equation 7.
Equation 26B
Where:
the carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in the debris pool following a natural disturbance in land parcel in reporting period .
the mean carbon stock of harvested biomass, in tonnes C per hectare, for species in land parcel —from Equation 14.
the annualised growth rate after harvest, in tonnes C per hectare per year, for land parcel —from Equation 18.
=
years between start of crediting period and start of reporting period in which natural disturbance occurred.
62 Carbon dioxide emissions
Note If a natural disturbance occurs, carbon dioxide emissions from the resulting debris pool are subtracted from the net abatement amount in every reporting period for the rest of the crediting period, not only in the reporting period in which the natural disturbance occurs. See Equation 28.
(1) The annualised carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes of CO2-e per year, for each land parcel must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 27
Where:
the annualised carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes CO2-e per hectare per year, due to natural disturbance in land parcel in reporting period .
the carbon stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in the debris pool following a natural disturbance in land parcel —from Equation 26A or 26B.
0.1being the debris decay factor.
=
years between start of reporting period in which natural disturbance occurred in land parcel and the end of the crediting period.
the annualised growth rate after harvest, in tonnes C per hectare per year, for land parcel —from Equation 18.
Note The factor represents the ratio of molecular weights of carbon dioxide to carbon.
(2) For each reporting period, the annualised carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes CO2-e per year, from all natural disturbances in the reporting period must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 28
Where:
the annualised carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes CO2-e per year, in reporting period .
the annualised carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes CO2-e per hectare per year, due to natural disturbance in land parcel p in reporting period r—from Equation 27.
=
the area, in hectares, of land in land parcel affected by natural disturbance in reporting period —from Equation 25.
(3) The annualised carbon dioxide emissions from natural disturbances in all reporting periods must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 29
Where:
the annualised carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes CO2-e per year, from natural disturbances in all reporting periods.
the annualised carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes CO2-e per year, in reporting period r—from Equation 28.
(4) For each reporting period, the total carbon dioxide emissions from all natural disturbances must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 30
Where:
the total carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, from all natural disturbances in reporting period r.
the annualised carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes CO2-e per year, for all reporting periods—from Equation 29.
the number of years in reporting period.
63 Emissions from carbon stock burnt
Note If a fire occurs, methane and nitrous oxide emissions from the fire are subtracted from the net abatement amount in the reporting period in which the fire occurs. See Equation 32.
(1) This section applies if the natural disturbance was a fire.
(2) For each land parcel in a stratum affected by a fire, the amount of carbon stock burnt must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 31
Where:
aboveground biomass stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in the project scenario assumed to be combusted during a fire event for parcel , in current reporting period .
the carbon stock of logging slash, in tonnes C per hectare, remaining as debris at the end of the crediting period for all species in land parcel —from Equation 6.
0.1being the debris decay factor.
=
the number of years between the harvest in land parcel and the end of the crediting period.
the annualised growth rate after harvest, in tonnes C per hectare per year, for land parcel —from Equation 18.
=
years between start of crediting period and start of reporting period in which natural disturbance in land parcel occurred.
(3) Emissions of methane from the burnt carbon stock must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 32
Where:
emissions from methane (CH4), in tonnes CO2-e per hectare, due to fire in land parcel in reporting period.
aboveground biomass stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in the project scenario but absent in the baseline assumed to be combusted during a fire event for land parcel in reporting period —from Equation 31.
the burning efficiency for wildfires in the National Inventory Report.
emissions factor for methane, in tonnes of CH4 per tonne of element in fuel burnt, from forest biomass burning in the National Inventory Report.
elemental to molecular mass conversion factor for methane in the National Inventory Report.
global warming potential of methane as specified in the NGER Regulations.
(4) Emissions of nitrous oxide from the burnt carbon stock must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 33
Where:
emissions from nitrous oxide (N2O), in tonnes CO2-e per hectare, due to fire in land parcel in reporting period.
aboveground biomass stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in the project scenario but absent in the baseline assumed to be combusted during a fire event for land parcel , in current reporting period —from Equation 31.
the burning efficiency for wildfires in the National Inventory Report.
emission factor for nitrous oxide, in tonnes of N2O per tonne of element in fuel burnt, from forest biomass burning in the National Inventory Report.
elemental to molecular mass conversion factor for nitrous oxide in the National Inventory Report.
=
global warming potential of nitrous oxide as specified in the NGER Regulations.
=
nitrogen to carbon mass ratio in the National Inventory Report.
Note The values in the right hand column of Table D, which correspond to the parameters in the left hand column, are from section 7.14 in Volume 2 of the National Inventory Report 2012. Table D is for information only, as the values may be updated in subsequent National Inventory Reports.
Table D
Parameter
Value
0.72
0.0054
1.33
0.0077
1.57
0.011
(5) The total emissions from the carbon stock burnt in the reporting period in which the fire occurred must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 34
Where:
=
the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, resulting from fire in reporting period.
the emissions from methane (CH4), in tonnes CO2-e per hectare, due to fire in land parcel in reporting period —from Equation 32.
the emissions from nitrous oxide (N2O), in tonnes CO2-e per hectare, due to fire in land parcel in reporting period —from Equation 33.
aboveground biomass stock, in tonnes C per hectare, in the project scenario but absent in the baseline assumed to be combusted during a fire event for land parcel , in current reporting period .
the area, in hectares, of land parcel affected by natural disturbance in reporting period —from Equation 25.
Note The factor represents the ratio of molecular weights of carbon dioxide to carbon.
64 Net project emissions
For each reporting period, net emissions in the project scenario must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 35
Where:
the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in the project scenario in reporting period .
=
(a) the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, resulting from fire in reporting period—from Equation 34 if section 63 applies; or
(b) otherwise—zero.
the total carbon dioxide emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in reporting period —from Equation 30.
the carbon stock increases since harvest, in tonnes CO2-e, in the project scenario in reporting period —from Equation 19.
Subdivision 4—Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount
65 Carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount
(1) If:
(a) the reporting period is the first reporting period; or
(b) the net abatement amount for the previous reporting period was zero or greater than zero;
the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount for the project in relation to a reporting period must be calculated using the following equation:
Equation 36A
Where:
the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount, in tonnes CO2-e, in reporting period .
the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in the baseline scenario in reporting period —from Equation 17 or 17A.
the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in the project scenario in reporting period —from Equation 35.
0.1, being the leakage factor.
(2) If the net abatement amount for the previous reporting period was less than zero, the net abatement amount must be calculated using the following formula:
Equation 36B
Where:
the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount, in tonnes CO2-e, in reporting period .
the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in the baseline scenario in reporting period —from Equation 17 or 17A.
the net greenhouse gas emissions, in tonnes CO2-e, in the project scenario in reporting period —from Equation 35.
0.1, being the leakage factor.
the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount, in tonnes CO2-e, in the previous reporting period —from previous offsets report.
Part 5—Reporting, record keeping and monitoring requirements
Division 1—General
66 Application
For subsection 106(3) of the Act, a project proponent of designated Verified Carbon Standard project that is an eligible offsets project is subject to the monitoring and record-keeping requirements in this Part.
Division 2—Monitoring requirements
67 Project monitoring
The project proponent must take reasonable steps to monitor the project area for natural disturbances.
Note 1 ‘Natural disturbance’ is defined in section 5 of the Act.
Note 2 If a natural disturbance occurs in the project area, section 81 of the Act and subregulation 6.10(1) of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Regulations 2011 apply.
Division 3—Record-keeping requirements
68 Records that must be created and kept
The project proponent must create and keep records of the data used for and the result of every calculation completed in accordance with Part 4.
Note Other record-keeping requirements are prescribed in the legislative rules.
Division 4—Offsets report requirements
69 Determination of certain factors and parameters
If, in the circumstances described in paragraph 19(2)(b), a factor or parameter is defined or calculated for a reporting period by reference to an instrument or writing as in force from time to time, the offsets report about the project for the reporting period must include the following information for the factor or parameter:
(a) the versions of the instrument or writing used;
(b) the start and end dates of each use;
(c) the reasons why it was not possible to define or calculate the factor or parameter by reference to the instrument or writing as in force at the end of the reporting period.
