This method will expire 31 March 2025
The expiry of the avoided clearing of native regrowth method may impact Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme participants who are:
- considering registering a new project
- in the process of registering a new project
- undertaking a project that has already been registered
- considering transferring their project to a new or updated method.
Learn more in our guidance for ACCU Scheme participants impacted by the expiry of a method.
Projects under this method avoid clearing native forest that's regenerated on land previously cleared for cropping or grazing. Australian carbon credit units (ACCUs) are earned by retaining areas of regrowth native forest that would otherwise be cleared.
To be eligible for this method, the Queensland State government must have granted the landholder the right to undertake clearing, but the landholder must have chosen not to.
When to use this method
The avoided clearing of native regrowth method may be suitable for you if:
- project land is located in Queensland
- you can keep and maintain areas of native forest that would otherwise be cleared
- project land has been cleared and used for grazing or cropping, at least twice.
You can find out more about this method and how to conduct a project in our guide to the avoided clearing method.
Legislation
Before you plan or register your project, make sure you read and understand the legislative requirements and the method.
Eligibility
Project eligibility
All projects under this method must be in Queensland.
To be eligible, projects can only run on land where:
- unrestricted clearing is permitted and can be demonstrated
- clearing has occurred twice in the past and been used for grazing or cropping after each clearing event before the native forest regenerated
- your next clearing event aligns with when you are applying to have a project
- the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) must be used.
You need evidence of the land's native forest cover, clearing history, regeneration history and land use history.
You must also meet general eligibility requirements for the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme.
Relevant legislation
- Part 3 of the Act
- Part 3 of the method
- Division 2 of the method.
Exclusions
There are exclusions under this method:
- land must not contain plantations or environmental plantings
- commercial harvesting
- fertiliser use.
Using any of the above exclusions will make your project ineligible.
Relevant legislation
- Sections 13 to 14 of the method
- Section 18 of the method
- Section 30 of the method
- Section 32 of the method
Method requirements
Project activities are:
- ongoing management of the native forest
- reducing the risk of damage from fire, weeds and feral animals
- meeting method specific monitoring and record-keeping requirements
- dividing or stratifying project areas into carbon estimation areas (CEA) which must occur when applying to register a project.
CEAs are areas where your project stores carbon and activities occur. Each area must cover at least one-fifth of a hectare.
CEA boundaries must be defined as required by the method requirements and the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) mapping guidelines.
CFI Mapping Guidelines ( 514.52 KB pdf )CEAs can be defined using:
- field surveys
- soil, vegetation and landform maps
- satellite imagery.
Under this method, you may:
- collect up to 10% of wood from the forest for personal uses, such as fencing or household firewood
- thin trees for ecological purposes if biomass remains in the CEA and forest cover is maintained.
Projects under this method are subject to permanence.
Relevant legislation
- Part 3 of the method
25 years.
Relevant legislation
- Part 5 of the Act
Calculating abatement is dependent on your reporting period. You must refer to the method for relevant and specific calculations.
Abatement is calculated with:
- carbon stock
- emissions from project area
- calculations of the carbon dioxide equivalent net abatement amount.
You can calculate carbon stock using FullCAM. FullCAM does this by comparing 2 scenarios:
- a baseline scenario, where land would normally be cleared
- a project scenario, where land is no longer cleared.
There are different versions of FullCAM you can use. This depends on the start date of your project. Refer to our guide to the 2020 FullCAM – transition arrangements to find which version is correct for you.
The difference between scenarios is the amount of extra carbon stored because of your project.
The net amount of abatement for your reporting period is determined by:
- subtracting any emissions due to fires from the total change in carbon stock
- applying the method-specific calculations.
The resulting amount of abatement is used to determine the ACCUs issued.
Baseline scenario
The baseline scenario involves modelling the following projected series of events over a 100-year period:
- regeneration
- clearing
- burning of debris heaped into windrows after clearing.
Project scenario
The project scenario is a series of modelled events. They are modelled as they're planned to occur.
These events can include:
- regeneration after the most recent clearing event
- thinning of trees
- wildfires
- non-fire disturbances.
Relevant legislation
- Part 4 of the method
- Division 4 of the method
You must monitor:
- fires
- other natural disturbances.
You must remember to also meet the monitoring requirements of the Act.
Relevant legislation
- Part 17 of the Act
- Section 60 of the method
You must keep records of:
- evidence used to prove your project's eligibility
- FullCAM data for baseline and project scenarios
- results of all calculations
- thinning events
- fires
- non-fire natural disturbances.
You must remember to also meet the record-keeping requirements of the Act and the Rule.
Relevant legislation
- Part 17 of the Act
- Part 17 of the Rule
- Section 58 of the method
Your reports must include:
- FullCAM data for baseline and project scenarios
- results of all calculations
- thinning events
- fires
- non-fire natural disturbances.
You must remember to also meet the reporting requirements of the Act and the Rule.
Relevant legislation
- Part 6 of the Act
- Part 6 of the Rule
- Section 56 of the method.
We provide you with an audit schedule when your project's declared.
You must provide audit reports according to this schedule.
We schedule at least 3 audits. Extra audits can be triggered.
For more information on audit requirements, refer to our audit information.
Relevant legislation
- Part 19 of the Act
- Part 6 of the Rule
Documents and resources
- Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM)
- FullCAM guidelines
- A guide to the avoided clearing method
- Meeting the requirements of 'regulatory additionality' with conservation covenants
Explore all ACCU Scheme guidance using the guidance library.