Human Induced Regeneration Archives - GreenCollar

Western Australia Rangelands Conservation Initiative

GreenCollar — Mon, 20 May 2024 02:23:57 +0000

Nallan Station lies around 400km north-east of Geraldton in Western Australia, about halfway between Perth and the Karijini National Park. Amongst some of the oldest granite rocks in the world, the station sits on rich red ranges, dotted with vast fields of shrublands.

Formerly known as Poplar Downs, Nallan Station has a long history as a grazing enterprise, with the original homestead built over 100 years ago. Nallan is an Aboriginal word for ‘good eating’, most likely referring to when Lake Nallan is full and the wildlife plentiful. Catherine and Dave Marett purchased the property in 2016 with a vision of holistic management practices at the helm of their decision making, currently running 200-300 Drought Master / Angus Cross cattle across the property.

Historically, Nallan Station’s native flora had been suppressed by consistent long-term grazing of both stock and feral animals. The Marett’s decided to take action and the Western Australian Rangelands Conservation Initiative was registered in 2018. Over time, the project will regenerate over 37,000ha of native forest and shrublands, providing critical ecosystem services in the Murchison region, as well as habitat for the abundant birdlife of the Carnarvon basin.

The Marett’s continually work towards controlling the feral goat and donkey populations, managing them in a humane manner. To reduce and control grazing pressure, they have decentralised watering points and built trap yards at them, capable of trapping both feral and domestic stock. Furthermore, the station’s infrastructure and fencing has been upgraded in order to implement a rotational grazing regime. This assists the Marett’s to manage the timing and extent of grazing, allowing the native vegetation to regenerate and, ultimately increase biodiversity.

Nallan is a family-owned business and Cath and Dave adopt a “hands-on approach” with their family and local employees they employ as necessary. This creates flow-on benefits to local communities, helping to build a more resilient and sustainable future.

Nallan also operates as an accredited Station Stay, providing visitors from all over the world the opportunity to experience Station life. With waterways that are often home to finches, native pigeons, pink and grey galahs, parrots and swans, Nallan provides visitors with an opportunity for internationally renowned bird watching.

Moreover, visitors can explore local geographical wonders, like the rocky granite outcrops, and camp in remote areas with uninterrupted stargazing, all while being immersed in the natural surroundings that are being enriched by the regeneration project.

Key Benefits

Carbon abatement and sequestration to contribute to climate change mitigation

Delivers important ecosystem services for the area

Promotes biodiversity

Regenerates habitat for native wildlife

Supports infrastructure upgrades including new water points, fencing repairs

Enables management changes including implementation of rotational grazing

Supports feral animal population management

Delivers investment back into the local community & creates local jobs

We support the Sustainable Development Goals

Statistics

Methodology

Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1 Methodology Determination 2013 – varied 2018

Registered ID

ERF121763

Date registered

May 2018

Project area

37,743ha

Permanence

25 yrs

Location

Cue, Western Australia

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Darling River Conservation Initiative Site #2

GreenCollar — Mon, 20 May 2024 02:15:54 +0000

Project Information

Darling River Conservation Initiative Site #2

Human Induced Regeneration

Case Study
Project Information

Since 2018, Rachael and Brendan Litchfield have been running a carbon project at Blue Hills near Cobar, New South Wales. According to them, the project allows them “to make Blue Hills a functional, profitable and ethical farm whilst leaving our land in a better condition for the next generations.”

The income from the project has provided the Litchfields with better financial security, allowing them to make significant improvements to the property. “Coming out the other side of the drought with no stock, no feed, was rough,” they say. “So to be able to get back on our feet, and now, having the carbon income earmarked as money to fix things, we can improve things. It’s truly a life-changer to our farming practices.”

The Litchfields have upgraded fence lines to allow for stock rotations and prevent overstocking of project areas, and they regularly remove goats from the landscape to alleviate environmental damage.

They are working to add firebreaks to protect their carbon farming area, which in turn, protects the stock and feed across the property. With the additional income they have also been able to hire a local employee, reducing their workload and improving efficiency.

Though the project has only been running for a few years, the Litchfields have noticed that even in the drier times, the vegetation quickly bounces back thanks to better management. For the Litchfields, the carbon project has enabled them to improve their land by making simple and practical changes to their farming practices. “Brendan and I feel with the carbon income’s help, the improvements we can make will endure,” says Rachael. The Litchfields believe that their children will continue farming at Blue Hills, taking over “something that will be in a better condition than when we bought it.”

Key Benefits

Carbon sequestration to contribute to climate change mitigation

Regeneration of native forest and protection of habitat for 100 years

Improving sustainable land management practices and supporting a productive agricultural enterprise

Improved infrastructure to support rotational grazing and feral animal control

Improved financial security and business resilience

Improved land condition and drought resilience

We support the Sustainable Development Goals

Statistics

Methodology

Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1 Methodology Determination 2013

Registered ID

ERF123795

Date registered

October 2018

Project area

2,649ha

Permanence

100yrs

Location

Cobar, NSW

This information is not available now. Please come back later.

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Darling River Conservation Initiative Site #2

GreenCollar — Mon, 20 May 2024 02:13:35 +0000

The Litchfields have upgraded fence lines to allow for stock rotations and prevent overstocking of project areas, and they regularly remove goats from the landscape to alleviate environmental damage.

Key Benefits

Carbon sequestration to contribute to climate change mitigation

Regeneration of native forest and protection of habitat for 100 years

Improving sustainable land management practices and supporting a productive agricultural enterprise

Improved infrastructure to support rotational grazing and feral animal control

Improved financial security and business resilience

Improved land condition and drought resilience

We support the Sustainable Development Goals

Statistics

Methodology

Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1 Methodology Determination 2013

Registered ID

ERF123795

Date registered

October 2018

Project area

2,649ha

Permanence

100yrs

Location

Cobar, NSW

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South Australian Conservation Alliance Site #5

GreenCollar — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 01:23:44 +0000

Project Information

South Australian Conservation Alliance Site #5

Human Induced Regeneration

Case Study
Project Information

Sturt Vale Station is located in the beautiful north-eastern pastoral district of South Australia. Covering some 137,255 hectares, Sturt Vale comprises five separate properties: Sturt Vale, Wyndale, Alexandrina, Fordes Lagoon, and Aldermans. The properties are owned and run by Sturt Vale Pastoral, third generation pastoralists who manage sheep, goats and cattle at the station.

Sturt Vale measures an average annual rainfall of only 208mm, making water one of the most precious and vital resources in the area. With a keen interest in developing a robust business while improving the land and preserving its resources, Sturt Vale Pastoral committed to a carbon project in 2021.

As a result of the carbon project, Sturt Vale Pastoral has been able to make infrastructure improvements and adopt rotational grazing practices at the station. They have installed 200 km of fencing to manage total grazing pressure, as well as 15 dam yards/goat traps and 40 km of piping for new water points. The group has been able to source materials from local suppliers as well as employ people from the local community. The landholders also have a long-term station manager, a station hand and various contractors for fencing and mustering.

While the carbon project is still in its infancy, Sturt Vale Pastoral has already seen improvements on the property. New rotational grazing practices coupled with the additional fencing, have already resulted in better vegetation regrowth. The landholders have also observed improvements to soil condition and groundcover, as well as an increase in insect and bird populations.

Sturt Vale Pastoral has plans to completely fence the project area in order to better control total grazing pressure. They also plan to increase water reticulation across the station and upgrade their working yards. Sturt Vale Pastoral is using the carbon project as an opportunity to improve infrastructure and facilitate regrowth and regeneration at the station.

Key Benefits

Carbon abatement and sequestration to contribute to climate change mitigation

Improved infrastructure supporting rotational grazing and feral animal control

Improved landscape and drought resilience

Investment in the local community through job creation

We support the Sustainable Development Goals

Statistics

Methodology

Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1) Methodology Determination 2013

Registered ID

ERF163901

Date registered

June 2021

Project area

35,461 ha

Location

125km North East of Burra, SA

This information is not available now. Please come back later.

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Avondale Human Induced Regeneration Project

GreenCollar — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:28:37 +0000

For over twenty years, Helen and Waldo Ponder have been operating a merino sheep enterprise at their Avondale property. Located in Bourke, NSW, the Ponders describe it as “a beautiful part of the world”, home to a wealth of native flora, including strands of large gidgee trees, huge supplejack trees and leopardwood trees with their spotted bark. The native vegetation attracts a host of birdlife and the Ponders have enjoyed spotting willie wagtails, bee-eaters, wrens, galahs, cockatoos, budgies, ringneck and mulga parrots, as well as brolgas and black swans during wet seasons.

The Ponders started a carbon project at Avondale in 2021, intending to use the supplemental income to make property improvements to better manage their livestock and the native vegetation. The Ponders have adopted rotational grazing practices at Avondale, allowing the land to recover and regrow after grazing.

Using funds from the carbon project, the Ponders have built a seven kilometre pipeline to provide a more reliable water supply for four paddocks at Avondale. To help manage stock movement, new trap yards have also been completed near one watering point. The Ponders are already planning for future infrastructure improvements, including additional trap yards, upgraded watering points and updated fencing.

Key Benefits

Carbon sequestration to help mitigate climate change

Improved infrastructure supporting rotational grazing and feral animal control

Improved landscape and drought resilience

Investment in the local community through job creation

We support the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Statistics

Methodology

Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1) Methodology Determination 2013

Registered ID

ERF165905

Date registered

September 2021

Project area

35,461 ha

Permanence

25 years

Location

Bourke, NSW

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Darling River Conservation Initiative Site 8 HIR Project

GreenCollar — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 23:47:50 +0000

This project is located South West of Cobar in NSW in the Cobar Peneplain bioregion. The land consists of soft, sandy red soil, ranging from open shrublands interspersed by watercourses up to mulga ridge type country. The dominant species observed on the property from field surveys include Eremophila sturtii, Dodonaea lobulata, Callitris glaucophylla, Dodonaea viscosa and Acacia aneura.

The objective of this project is to regenerate natural woodlands and shrublands. This is achieved by controlled grazing and feral animal management across the project area including fencing upgrades and water management. In addition to sequestering carbon, regeneration of native vegetation in the project area reverses land degradation caused by feral goats and livestock and stabilises soils reducing erosion.

The Project (ERF132648) was declared project under the ‘Human Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Forest 1.1’ methodology (2013 c3) (the Determination) and generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). This is the fifth version of the Human Induced Regeneration methodology.

The project has issued Kyoto ACCUs in accordance with the date the carbon sequestration occurred. Kyoto ACCUs are issued for all carbon sequestration which has occurred after 14 May 2013 and non-Kyoto ACCUs are issued for carbon sequestration that occurred prior to this date.

Methodology Determination	Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1 Methodology Determination 2013 c3
Project Declaration Date ^[1]	20 May 2019
Permanence Period	100 years
Baseline Period ^[2] (10 year period before project commencement)	May 2009 – May 2019
Baseline management (Management during the Baseline Period)	Suppression of development of forest cover through uncontrolled livestock grazing, uncontrolled feral animal populations. Confirmed by evidence.
Modelling Commencement Date ^[3] (Date at which sufficient regeneration had started in the CEA)	01 July 2014 Note: the method requires there to be some vegetation present, at the modelling commencement in order to confirm that the area has the capacity to regenerate.
Modelling Tool	FullCAM 2016
Audit	There has been 1 audit undertaken by registered Greenhouse and Energy Auditors which have confirmed the project complies with the Methodology Determination and the requirements of the CFI Act in all material respects for the periods audited. The most recent audit report was issued on the 7 August 2020.

HIR project Carbon Estimation Areas

What are Carbon Estimation Areas?

A CEA is an area of land within a project area where the project activity or activities are being carried out to sequester carbon (for example, the cessation of mechanical or chemical clearing or management of timing and extent of grazing to enable regeneration of vegetation to forest) and for which ACCUs can be credited^[4].

These are the areas where project activities occur and where carbon abatement will be modelled applying standardised estimation formulae approved by the Clean Energy Regulator. There can be one or many CEAs on a Project Area.

Each CEA must contain areas of eligible land greater than 0.2ha in size in which the project activities are implemented and which have started to become native forest through regeneration.

Eligible Land is land that didn’t have forest cover during the baseline period (ie. the 10 years before project commencement) and which has been used or managed in a way that suppresses development of forest cover.
A particular area of land has Forest cover if the land has an area of at least 0.2 of a hectare and has trees that are 2 metres or more in height and provide crown cover of at least 20% of the land.

Stratification of Darling River Conservation Initiative Site 8 Project Area into CEAs

Stratification is the process of “demarcating the boundaries of CEAs from ineligible and non-implementation areas within a project area”^[5].

There are Guidelines setting out how Project Areas are stratified into CEAs. These include rules about evidence, stratification and record keeping to support the requirements in the CFI Rule 2015 (2018 and 2019 Amendments) including key method eligibility requirements.

Stratification of the Darling River Conservation Initiative Site 8 HIR Project was carried out in accordance with the Determination and first reported to the Clean Energy Regulator for a reporting period ending 31 May 2020.

A summary of the stratification of the Darling River Conservation Initiative Site 8 HIR Project is set out below:

Project Area	14,601 hectares
Number of Carbon Estimation Areas (CEA)	37
Total Carbon Estimation Areas (CEA)Size	5,342 hectares
Total area excluded from CEA	9,259 hectares
Excluded from CEA – Pre-existing forest cover (forest present at any time during the baseline period)	6,180 hectares
Excluded from CEA No forest potential (areas of land that do not meet the requirements of forest potential)	489 hectares
Excluded from CEA Non-project area (areas of land that are within the project area but excluded for other reason e.g. infrastructure or areas excluded for production purposes)	2,591 hectares

This map shows the project area boundary and the different elements of project design including the carbon estimation areas and exclusion areas. This stratification may reflect both initial stratification and subsequent revisions.

In order to validate the stratification of the Darling River Conservation Initiative Site 8 project in accordance with the Determination and Guidelines, GreenCollar carried out extensive field surveys and data collection. This included collection of data on existing vegetation species, stem density and vegetation height.

This map shows the points within the project area where ground truth surveys were conducted as part of the stratification process.

A Ground Truth Waypoint is a randomly allocated point within the project area where sampling data is collected.

The Guidelines also require a map accuracy assessment be completed before offset reporting. This assessment must include the field sample plots, which can be used in conjunction with remote sensing samples. The Clean Energy Regulator will accept mapping accuracies at or above 85 per cent for pre-existing forest and forest potential classification types. The overall accuracy of the Darling River Conservation Initiative Site 8 classification was 86.29% which is greater than the 85% minimum requirement of The Guidelines.

After the completion of the map accuracy assessment, any additional exclusion areas were delineated prior to finalising the initial stratification. The extent of exclusion areas (totalling 9,259 ha), comprised of pre-existing forest cover (6,180 ha) and areas which classified as having no forest potential (489 ha). Through this process a final eligible CEA area of 5,342 ha was confirmed.

This maps shows a current satellite image of the project area. Satellite imagery and remote sensing datasets were used to identify eligible land and exclusion areas.

This map shows a summary of all CEA and Exclusion Areas.

Project Sequestration and Abatement

This version of the HIR Methodology requires using the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) to determine the sequestration of carbon stocks and emissions required to calculate the net abatement amount for each reporting period. The carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount in relation to a reporting period for the project is taken to be the change in carbon stock for the project area less the project emissions. Any carbon stock that accumulated by the crediting start date for the project is calculated as the initial carbon stock and is removed from the calculation of abatement as the proponent is not entitled to credits for it.

See below for the average per hectare sequestration for the Darling River Conservation Initiative Site 8 HIR project.

Implementation & Monitoring

The activities for the project are:

the management of the timing & extent of grazing, and
the management, in a humane way, of feral animals

Since project commencement these activities have been undertaken across the project area to assist the regeneration of native forest in attaining forest cover. Once the initial offsets report has been completed, GreenCollar works closely with the land manager of the project property to collect land management information every quarter. This is reviewed and reported on in each offsets report.

A summary of monitoring activities and evidence collection undertaken on this project is set out below:

Evidence collection in relation to grazing and herd management
Evidence collection in relation to removal and reduction of feral animals
Evidence of fire management activities
Evidence collection from land manager as to other land management activities as relevant
Change detection assessments
Repeat biomass inventory surveys to track biomass change of regenerating vegetation
Daily fire hotspot monitoring and review of Seasonal Fire Risk
Review of SPEI drought index
Regeneration Gateway Checks

These surveys are currently not required under the HIR method but are implemented by GreenCollar to provide additional assurance that biophysical threats to carbon stores such as grazing, drought and fire are not negatively impacting the regeneration and to track progress of regeneration of the native forest. In addition, the data collected is utilised for broader research purposes.

Regeneration Checks

The Guidelines require that Proponents must provide regeneration checks at least once every five years from the start of the project’s last or only crediting period until CEAs pass their forest cover assessment date^[6], and upon request by the Clean Energy Regulator.

A summary of regeneration checks required for the Darling River Conservation Initiative Site 8 HIR Project is set out below:

Regeneration Check: Year 6

7.5% canopy cover at 100ha scale^[7]

20 May 2024

Regeneration Check: Year 10

10% canopy cover at 10ha scale^[8]

20 May 2029

Forest Cover Assessment Date ^[9]

01 July 2029

The process and methodology includes one or more of the three evidence requirements and reporting:

Evidence level 1: Change detection analysis, or
Evidence level 2: Remote sensing analysis and/or
Evidence level 3: Field data; and
Reporting

Project Area Files

GIS shapefiles for the project can be downloaded here. These files detail the project stratification including the carbon estimation areas and exclusion areas.

Footnotes

The information on this page was last updated July 2023. The content provided is current as of that date and may be subject to change. Any updates or changes made after this date may not be reflected on this page. Please verify the current status of any information before relying on it.

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Darling River Eco Corridor 32

GreenCollar — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 04:32:37 +0000

Darling River Eco Corridor 32 is situated near Bourke, in the north-west of New South Wales. In 2017, Kevin Whelan and his family partnered with GreenCollar on a carbon project, establishing a steady income stream for the family, facilitating improvements for the property and helping to regenerate native vegetation.

Income from the carbon project has enabled the Whelans to improve property infrastructure, including fencing and trap yards, allowing them to better control feral animals. It has also allowed them to diversify their business and reduce stocking levels, which make them less reliant on weather and seasonal conditions.

For the Whelans, the carbon project provides financial security, helping to maintain the property and keep their business viable.

Key Benefits

Carbon abatement and sequestration to contribute to climate change mitigation

Regeneration and protection of native vegetation and habitat for native flora and fauna

Improved infrastructure including fencing and trap yards

Improved feral animal management

Improved financial security and business resilience

Improved landscape and drought resilience

We support the Sustainable Development Goals

Statistics

Methodology

Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1 Methodology Determination 2013

Registered ID

ERF119591

Date registered

December 2017

Project area

5,356ha

Permanence

100yrs

Location

Bourke, NSW

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Moolakar Human-Induced Regeneration Project

GreenCollar — Wed, 29 Nov 2023 03:20:08 +0000

The Rosser family which includes Gary Rosser and husband and wife duo Mike and Lucy Rosser, are huge advocates of the regenerative benefits that carbon projects bring to agriculture businesses as well as the financial benefit for regional communities.

On Moolakar, their project is regenerating native vegetation through controlled grazing and feral animal management. With the support of the carbon money, even though the Rosser’s purchased the property during a drought, they were able to start infrastructure upgrades straight away, putting much needed money back into the local economy during hard times. They were also able to retain their station manager through the drought, and have employed new staff since it broke.

Their carbon project has given the Rossers the confidence to de-stock early when drought does hit, which allows the land to bounce back stronger afterwards. They have also been able to protect the biodiverse riparian zones that stock gravitate towards during drought, maintaining these areas as wildlife refuges for native species through the dry times.

Following the success of the Moolakar project, the Rossers purchased another nearby property in 2017, and quickly established a carbon project there too. The extra land has allowed them to better rotate grazing pressure across both properties and rest pastures more readily when required.

Having run three carbon projects across three properties in the past decade, the Rossers are convinced that carbon and farming work together to deliver positive outcomes for both the environment and agriculture.

Key Benefits

Carbon sequestration to contribute to climate change mitigation

Supporting the local ecosystem, creating and protecting habitat for native flora and fauna

Infrastructure upgrades and investment in the local community by sourcing local materials and labour for infrastructure upgrades and hiring of new staff at the farm.

Financial security and drought resilience

Business expansion and job creation

We support the Sustainable Development Goals

Statistics - Moolakar Human-Induced Regeneration Project

Methodology

Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1 Methodology Determination 2013

Registered ID

ERF101278

Date registered

June 2015

Project area

21,684 ha

Permanence

100 years

Location

Bourke, New South Wales

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Darling River Eco Corridor 34 HIR Project

GreenCollar — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:58:06 +0000

This project is located North East of Bourke in NSW in the Mulga Lands bioregion. The land consists of flats and floodplains, and slightly undulating plains and sandy ridgesThe dominant species observed on the property from field surveys include Eremophila sturtii, Dodonaea viscosa, Eremophila mitchellii, Acacia aneura, Acacia harpophylla and Eucalyptus populnea.

The Project (ERF121095) was declared project under the ‘Human Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Forest 1.1’ methodology (2013 c3) (the Determination) and generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). This is the fifth version of the Human Induced Regeneration methodology.

Methodology Determination	Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1 Methodology Determination 2013 c3
Project Declaration Date ^[1]	14 May 2018
Permanence Period	100 years
Baseline Period ^[2] (10 year period before project commencement)	April 2008 – April 2018
Baseline management (Management during the Baseline Period)	Suppression of development of forest cover through uncontrolled livestock grazing, uncontrolled feral animal populations. Confirmed by evidence.
Modelling Commencement Date ^[3] (Date at which sufficient regeneration had started in the CEA)	01 January 2015 Note: the method requires there to be some vegetation present, at the modelling commencement in order to confirm that the area has the capacity to regenerate.
Modelling Tool	FullCAM 2016
Audit	There has been 1 audit undertaken by registered Greenhouse and Energy Auditors which have confirmed the project complies with the Methodology Determination and the requirements of the CFI Act in all material respects for the periods audited. The most recent audit report was issued on the 5 March 2019.

HIR project Carbon Estimation Areas

What are Carbon Estimation Areas?

Each CEA must contain areas of eligible land greater than 0.2ha in size in which the project activities are implemented and which have started to become native forest through regeneration.

Eligible Land is land that didn’t have forest cover during the baseline period (ie. the 10 years before project commencement) and which has been used or managed in a way that suppresses development of forest cover.
A particular area of land has Forest cover if the land has an area of at least 0.2 of a hectare and has trees that are 2 metres or more in height and provide crown cover of at least 20% of the land.

Stratification of Darling River Eco Corridor 34 HIR Project Area into CEAs

Stratification is the process of “demarcating the boundaries of CEAs from ineligible and non-implementation areas within a project area”^[5].

Stratification of the Darling River Eco Corridor 34 HIR Project was carried out in accordance with the Determination and first reported to the Clean Energy Regulator for a reporting period ending 31 December 2018.^[6].

A summary of the stratification of the Darling River Eco Corridor 34 HIR Project is set out below:

Project Area	23,245 hectares
Number of Carbon Estimation Areas (CEA) ^[7]	49
Total Carbon Estimation Areas (CEA)Size	4,236 hectares
Total area excluded from CEA	19,009 hectares
Excluded from CEA – Pre-existing forest cover (forest present at any time during the baseline period)	10,340 hectares
Excluded from CEA No forest potential (areas of land that do not meet the requirements of forest potential)	8,555 hectares
Excluded from CEA Non-project area (areas of land that are within the project area but excluded for other reason e.g. infrastructure or areas excluded for production purposes)	114 hectares

In order to validate the stratification of the Darling River Eco Corridor 34 HIR project in accordance with the Determination and Guidelines, GreenCollar carried out extensive field surveys and data collection. This included collection of data on existing vegetation species, stem density and vegetation height.

This map shows the points within the project area where ground truth surveys were conducted as part of the stratification process.

A Ground Truth Waypoint is a randomly allocated point within the project area where sampling data is collected.

The Guidelines also require a map accuracy assessment be completed before offset reporting. This assessment must include the field sample plots, which can be used in conjunction with remote sensing samples. The Clean Energy Regulator will accept mapping accuracies at or above 85 per cent for pre-existing forest and forest potential classification types. The overall accuracy of the Darling River Eco Corridor 34 classification was 86% which is greater than the 85% minimum requirement of The Guidelines.

After the completion of the map accuracy assessment, any additional exclusion areas were delineated prior to finalising the initial stratification. The extent of exclusion areas (totalling 19,009 ha), comprised of pre-existing forest cover (10,340 ha) and areas which classified as having no forest potential (8,555 ha). Through this process a final eligible CEA area of 4,236 ha was confirmed.

This maps shows a current satellite image of the project area. Satellite imagery and remote sensing datasets were used to identify eligible land and exclusion areas.

This map shows a summary of all CEA and Exclusion Areas.

Project Sequestration and Abatement

See below for the average per hectare sequestration for the Darling River Eco Corridor 34 HIR project.

Implementation & Monitoring

The activities for the project are:

the management of the timing & extent of grazing, and
the management, in a humane way, of feral animals

Since project commencement these activities have been undertaken across the project area to assist the regeneration of native forest in attaining forest cover. Once the initial offsets report has been completed, GreenCollar works closely with the landholder of the project property to collect land management information every quarter. This is reviewed and reported on in each offsets report.

A summary of monitoring activities and evidence collection undertaken on this project is set out below:

Evidence collection in relation to grazing and herd management
Evidence collection in relation to removal and reduction of feral animals
Evidence of fire management activities
Evidence collection from landholder as to other land management activities as relevant
Change detection assessments
Repeat biomass inventory surveys to track biomass change of regenerating vegetation
Daily fire hotspot monitoring and review of Seasonal Fire Risk
Review of SPEI drought index
Regeneration Gateway Checks

Regeneration Checks

The Guidelines require that Proponents must provide regeneration checks at least once every five years from the start of the project’s last or only crediting period until CEAs pass their forest cover assessment date^[7], and upon request by the Clean Energy Regulator.

Darling River Eco Corridor 34 HIR Project is set out below:

Regeneration Check: Year 6

7.5% canopy cover at 100ha scale^[8]

14 May 2023

Regeneration Check: Year 10

10% canopy cover at 10ha scale^[9]

14 May 2027

Forest Cover Assessment Date ^[10]

14 May 2033

The process and methodology includes one or more of the three evidence requirements and reporting:

Evidence level 1: Change detection analysis, or
Evidence level 2: Remote sensing analysis and/or
Evidence level 3: Field data; and
Reporting

Project Area Files

GIS shapefiles for the project can be downloaded here. These files detail the project stratification including the carbon estimation areas and exclusion areas.

Footnotes

^[1] Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 Section 27
^[2] Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest—1.1) Methodology Determination 2013 c3 Section 4
^[3]Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest—1.1) Methodology Determination 2013 c3 Section 28
^[4] Guidelines on evidence, stratification and records 8 May 2019
^[5] Guidelines on evidence, stratification and records 8 May 2019
^[6] The initial stratification was reported on prior to the public release of the Guidelines on stratification, evidence and records in May 2019, however draft material was available at this time. Additionally, the project is defined as an existing project in accordance with Section 9AA of the CFI Rule 2015.
^[7] Forest cover assessment date has the same meaning as that given by section 9AA(6) of the CFI Rule.
^[8] Guidelines on evidence, stratification and records 8 May 2019
^[9] Guidelines on evidence, stratification and records 8 May 2019
^[10] Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 Section 9AA(6)

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Buckambool HIR Project

GreenCollar — Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:31:50 +0000

This project is located South West of Cobar in NSW in the Cobar Peneplain bioregion. The land consists of flat cropping country, rocky ridges and small gullies. The dominant species observed on the property from field surveys include Callitris glaucophylla, Eremophila mitchellii, Eremophila sturtii, Dodonaea viscosa and Eucalyptus populnea.

The objective of this project is to regenerate natural woodlands and shrublands. This is achieved by controlled grazing and feral animal management across the project area along with fencing upgrades. In addition to sequestering carbon, regeneration of native vegetation in the project area reverses land degradation caused by feral goats and livestock and stabilises soils reducing erosion.

The Project (EOP101263) was declared project under the ‘Human Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Forest 1.1’ methodology (2013 c1) (the Determination) and generates Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs). This is the third version of the Human Induced Regeneration methodology.

The project has issued both Kyoto ACCUs and non-Kyoto ACCUs in accordance with the date the carbon sequestration occurred. Kyoto ACCUs are issued for all carbon sequestration which has occurred after 14 May 2013 and non-Kyoto ACCUs are issued for carbon sequestration that occurred prior to this date.

Methodology Determination	Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest – 1.1 Methodology Determination 2013 c1
Project Declaration Date ^[1]	24 June 2015
Permanence Period	100 years
Baseline Period ^[2] (10 year period before project commencement)	January 2000 – December 2009
Baseline management (Management during the Baseline Period)	Suppression of development of forest cover through uncontrolled livestock grazing, uncontrolled feral animal populations. Confirmed by evidence.
Modelling Commencement Date ^[3] (Date at which sufficient regeneration had started in the CEA)	01 January 2010 Note: the method requires there to be some vegetation present, at the modelling commencement in order to confirm that the area has the capacity to regenerate.
Modelling Tool	Reforestation Modelling Tool
Audit	There has been 1 audit undertaken by registered Greenhouse and Energy Auditors which has confirmed the project complies with the Methodology Determination and the requirements of the CFI Act in all material respects for the periods audited. The most recent audit report was issued on the 26 May 2017.

HIR project Carbon Estimation Areas

What are Carbon Estimation Areas?

Each CEA must contain areas of eligible land greater than 0.2ha in size in which the project activities are implemented and which have started to become native forest through regeneration.

Eligible Land is land that didn’t have forest cover during the baseline period (ie. the 10 years before project commencement) and which has been used or managed in a way that suppresses development of forest cover.
A particular area of land has Forest cover if the land has an area of at least 0.2 of a hectare and has trees that are 2 metres or more in height and provide crown cover of at least 20% of the land.

Stratification of Buckambool HIR Project Area into CEAs

Stratification is the process of “demarcating the boundaries of CEAs from ineligible and non-implementation areas within a project area”^[5].

Stratification of the Buckambool HIR Project was carried out in accordance with the Determination and first reported to the Clean Energy Regulator for a reporting period ending 31 December 2016.^[6]

A summary of the stratification of the Buckambool HIR Project is set out below:

Project Area	31,159 hectares
Number of Carbon Estimation Areas (CEA) ^[7]	1
Total Carbon Estimation Areas (CEA)Size	9,402 hectares
Total area excluded from CEA	21,758 hectares
Excluded from CEA – Pre-existing forest cover (forest present at any time during the baseline period)	13,301 hectares
Excluded from CEA No forest potential (areas of land that do not meet the requirements of forest potential)	207 hectares
Excluded from CEA Non-project area (areas of land that are within the project area but excluded for other reason e.g. infrastructure or areas excluded for production purposes)	8,250 hectares

In order to inform the initial stratification of the Buckambool HIR Project in accordance with the Determination, GreenCollar carried out field surveys and data collection. This included collection of data on existing vegetation species, photos and a detailed site description.

Satellite imagery and remote sensing datasets were used to identify eligible land and exclusion areas. The extent of exclusion areas (totalling 21,758 ha), comprised of pre-existing forest cover (13,301 ha) and areas which classified as having no forest potential (207 ha). Through this process a final eligible CEA area of 9,402 ha was confirmed.

This maps shows a current satellite image of the project area. Satellite imagery and remote sensing datasets were used to identify eligible land and exclusion areas.

This map shows a summary of all CEA and Exclusion Areas.

Project Sequestration and Abatement

This version of the HIR Methodology required using the Reforestation Modelling Tool to determine the sequestration of carbon stocks and emissions required to calculate the net abatement amount for each reporting period. The carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount in relation to a reporting period for the project is taken to be the change in carbon stock for the project area less the project emissions. Any carbon stock that accumulated by the crediting start date for the project is calculated as the initial carbon stock and is removed from the calculation of abatement as the proponent is not entitled to credits for it.

See below for the average per hectare sequestration for the Buckambool HIR project.

Implementation & Monitoring

The activities for the project are:

the management of the timing & extent of grazing, and
the management, in a humane way, of feral animals

Since project commencement these activities have been undertaken across the project area to assist the regeneration of native forest in attaining forest cover. Once the initial offsets report has been completed, GreenCollar works closely with the landholder of the project property to collect land management information every quarter. This is reviewed and reported on in each offsets report.

A summary of monitoring activities and evidence collection undertaken on this project is set out below:

Evidence collection in relation to grazing and herd management
Evidence collection in relation to removal and reduction of feral animals
Evidence of fire management activities
Evidence collection from landholder as to other land management activities as relevant
Change detection assessments
Repeat biomass inventory surveys to track biomass change of regenerating vegetation
Daily fire hotspot monitoring and review of Seasonal Fire Risk
Review of SPEI drought index
Regeneration Gateway Checks

This map shows the points within the project area where vegetation biomass surveys were conducted as part of the monitoring process.

A Biomass Waypoint is a randomly allocated point within the project area where sampling data is collected.

Regeneration Checks

The Guidelines require that Proponents must provide regeneration checks at least once every five years from the start of the project’s last or only crediting period until CEAs pass their forest cover assessment date^[8], and upon request by the Clean Energy Regulator.

A summary of regeneration checks required for the Buckambool HIR Project is set out below:

Regeneration Check: Year 6

7.5% canopy cover at 100ha scale^[9]

24 June 2020 – Completed

Regeneration Check: Year 10

10% canopy cover at 10ha scale^[10]

24 June 2024

Forest Cover Assessment Date ^[11]

24 June 2030

The process and methodology includes one or more of the three evidence requirements and reporting:

Evidence level 1: Change detection analysis, or
Evidence level 2: Remote sensing analysis and/or
Evidence level 3: Field data; and
Reporting

Project Area Files

GIS shapefiles for the project can be downloaded here. These files detail the project stratification including the carbon estimation areas and exclusion areas.

Footnotes

^[1] Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011 Section 27
^[2] Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest—1.1) Methodology Determination 2013 c1 Section 1.3
^[3] Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) (Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest—1.1) Methodology Determination 2013 c1 Section 4.5
^[4] Guidelines on evidence, stratification and records 8 May 2019
^[5] Guidelines on evidence, stratification and records 8 May 2019
^[6] The initial stratification was reported on prior to the public release of the Guidelines on stratification, evidence and records in May 2019. These guidelines also set out administrative arrangements for projects that have previously reported, including a pragmatic approach that will be taken in situations where additional evidence is required to meet these guidelines. Additionally, the project is defined as an existing project in accordance with Section 9AA of the CFI Rule 2015.
^[7] Supplementary Guidance from the Clean Energy Regulator on 19 November 2014 allows participants to choose to combine several CEAs into one CEA. For example, where small CEAs are located next to each other and share common features.
^[8] Forest cover assessment date has the same meaning as that given by section 9AA(6) of the CFI Rule.
^[9] Guidelines on evidence, stratification and records 8 May 2019
^[10] Guidelines on evidence, stratification and records 8 May 2019
^[11] Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 Section 9AA(6)

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