Guidelines available
On 8 May 2019, the Clean Energy Regulator released Guidelines on stratification evidence and records for HIR and NFMR for projects under the human-induced regeneration and native forest from managed regrowth methods. The guidelines support the requirements in the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Amendment Rule (No.2) 2018, the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Amendment Rule (No.1) 2019, and key method eligibility requirements. The Clean Energy Regulator consulted with industry and technical experts to develop these guidelines.
The guideline supersedes the Archived: Interim posture on crediting for NFMR and HIR projects and Archived: Operational policy on crediting for NFMR and HIR projects used to assess crediting abatement for human-induced regeneration and native forest from managed regrowth methods from November 2017 to May 2019.
The Clean Energy Regulator has produced guidance on the circumstances in which it is necessary to stratify carbon estimation areas (CEAs) according to species mix – a requirement for projects using the environmental or mallee plantings FullCAM method, and the human-induced regeneration of a permanent even-aged native forest method.
The methodology determinations stipulate the use of the 'environmental plantings' setting in the reforestation modelling tool (RMT), however the RMT does not provide for modelling results based on a difference in species mix alone.
This guidance clarifies how differences in species mix should be accounted for using the three different methodology determinations.
In the case of an environmental or mallee plantings project, if the decision to plant a different mix of species in different areas has been made on the basis of identified differences in site characteristics or in establishment and/or management methods of those areas, then the project area and/or carbon estimation area must be stratified in line with differences in species mix.
For projects using the human-induced regeneration methodology determination, estimations of the species mix that will regenerate in different areas are to be based on identified differences in site characteristics of those areas or differences in management practices for those areas.