2013, 2015, 2018 savanna fire management methods (closed)

If you have a registered project under a closed method, you can choose to transfer your project to either of the active 2026 savanna fire management methods.

Savanna projects have restrictions on area variations. Project areas cannot be added to projects under a closed method.

Projects under savanna fire management methods must include annual planned burning in each project area.

Activities can include igniting strategic and planned fires:

• from aircrafts
• from vehicles
• by walking across country with handheld drip torches.

Early dry season fire management may be supported by late dry season fire management activities such as constructing fire breaks.

Fire management activities depend on the local landscape and weather conditions.

Project management plans (2018 methods only)

Before commencing burning, you must prepare a plan that describes the planned burning intended to be undertaken. This can be modified during the fire season to show accurate conditions.

Abatement calculations are based on:

• the baseline period
• vegetation fuel type map – to define the vegetation class of each mapping unit within the project area, for example, open forest with mixed grasses or shrubland with hummock grasses
• annual fire scar maps – to identify if a mapping unit has been burnt or unburnt.

The baseline period is the emissions or sequestration that would occur in a project area without a savanna fire management project. This can be either:

• 10 years prior to project commencement, for areas in the high rainfall zone
• 15 years prior to project commencement, for areas in the low rainfall zone.

You can complete your net abatement calculations manually or with the external Savanna Burning Abatement Tool (SavBAT).

Project abatement may vary in years due to:

• the type and extent of fire management activities
• the number of unplanned fires
• normal climate variability.

How to calculate emissions avoided

Abatement for emissions avoided is calculated from the difference between mean baseline and annual project emissions. This reflects the change in emissions due to change in fire management practices.

Multi-year reporting periods (2013 methods only)

For multi-year reporting periods under the 2013 method, abatement must be calculated by adding the annual abatement for each calendar year of the reporting period. This is regardless of whether annual abatement for any year is a positive or negative amount.

For further information, refer to refer to multiple year reports for savanna fire management projects. 

Uncertainty buffer (2015 and 2018 methods only)

The 2015 and 2018 methods manage yearly variations through the uncertainty buffer.

If a project has a positive benefit, a portion (up to 10% of ACCUs) is set aside to cover potential losses in the future. This buffer will build to a maximum of 5% of the average annual baseline emissions. It isn't returned to projects at the end of the crediting period.

If emissions from fires in a year are greater than experienced in the baseline period, the abatement will be negative. This negative value is offset by withdrawing from the uncertainty buffer. If the negative abatement exceeds the amount in the uncertainty buffer, projects won't receive credits in subsequent years until the uncertainty buffer returns to a positive value.

How to calculate sequestration (2018 sequestration method only)

Sequestration rewards ACCUs for: 

• annual planned burning
• storing the carbon in dead organic matter, such as logs and branches that would otherwise be burned in wildfires.

Net abatement from sequestration is the mean annual difference between the carbon stored during the project years and during the baseline period. This shows the difference in carbon stored with the change of fire management practices.

ACCUs rewarded for storing carbon in dead organic matter are subject to the sequestration buffer. The following discounts will apply to the sequestration abatement of a project:

• a 25% discount for projects selecting a 25-year permanence period
• a 5% discount for projects selecting a 100-year permanence period.

All projects under the sequestration method are subject to permanence obligations.

Sequestration projects must demonstrate that controlled burning will continue long enough to ensure that carbon remains in the landscape during the permanence period. Stopping these activities before the end of the permanence period can undo the benefits and result in a return of earned ACCUs.

25 years.

You need to report on your project at least once every 2 years for emissions avoidance projects, or at least once every 5 years for sequestration projects.

You receive ACCUs when you report emissions reductions or sequestration over the crediting period (25 years).

To successfully report, you need to submit an application through Online Services. Applications must include:

1. offsets reports with:
   • a declaration that the density of livestock hasn't increased as a consequence of the project (2015 and 2018 methods only)
   • a declaration of whether the project area was varied or subdivided (2018 methods only)
   • a description of burning activities such as location, timing, method and extent
   • an indication of whether the burning activities met the project objectives (2018 methods only)
2. abatement calculations (SavBAT reports if used)
3. information on fuel used for project activities (2013 and 2015 methods only)
4. information on weed species management and monitoring activities (2018 methods only)
5. a copy of your vegetation fuel type map and supporting information on how it meets the method requirements
6. yearly project management plans (2018 methods only)
7. fire permits.

We provide you with an audit schedule when your project is declared. This includes at least 3 audits, and additional audits can be triggered.

You must provide audit reports with your offsets report according to this schedule.

Find out more about our audit information.