Public Consultation extended on Plantations for Carbon Farming Initiative
The Department of the Environment and Energy has released a new draft plantation forestry method for public consultation. While submissions on the Plantation Forestry method close on 30 December 2016, the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee has indicated it is willing to consider submissions on the draft method and proposed amendments to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 up until Monday 9 January 2017.
The draft method credits abatement by storing carbon from the atmosphere in trees. This is done by establishing one or more new plantation forests, or converting short-rotation plantations to long-rotation forests. These activities must result in eligible carbon abatement. Existing Emissions Reduction Fund projects under a current method, where one or more plantation forests have been established, may be able to apply to transfer to the plantations method.
Chair of Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Mr Greg McCormack said, “Scientists and foresters have worked closely with Federal departments to ensure that the carbon storage mathematics in this draft methodology is bulletproof. Rotational forestry is not just good for jobs in the bush, but also one of the best, and most cost-effective tools, for storing carbon and reducing Australia’s carbon emissions profile.”
The plantation methodology will allow forest growers and farmers to factor the possibility of a small carbon payment into the high cost of establishing areas of new trees.
Mr McCormack said, “The commitment required under the draft methodology is for a forest grower or farmer to maintain the planting for at least twenty-five years – receiving a modest carbon payment each year for the first ten years.
“The additional income will be very minor compared to the very high costs borne over that first ten-year period. This will ensure that only the most sensible choices are made about where to plant trees – such as close to major processing facilities in Tumut and Oberon in NSW, or Gippsland in Victoria, or near Mt Gambier, South Australia, or Bunbury in Western Australia, or in Tasmania.”
More Information on the draft method and instructions on how to provide a submission are available on the Department’s website
The Department of the Environment and Energy has released a new draft plantation forestry method for public consultation. While submissions on the Plantation Forestry method close on 30 December 2016, the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee has indicated it is willing to consider submissions on the draft method and proposed amendments to the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 up until Monday 9 January 2017.
The draft method credits abatement by storing carbon from the atmosphere in trees. This is done by establishing one or more new plantation forests, or converting short-rotation plantations to long-rotation forests. These activities must result in eligible carbon abatement. Existing Emissions Reduction Fund projects under a current method, where one or more plantation forests have been established, may be able to apply to transfer to the plantations method.
Chair of Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) Mr Greg McCormack said, “Scientists and foresters have worked closely with Federal departments to ensure that the carbon storage mathematics in this draft methodology is bulletproof. Rotational forestry is not just good for jobs in the bush, but also one of the best, and most cost-effective tools, for storing carbon and reducing Australia’s carbon emissions profile.”
The plantation methodology will allow forest growers and farmers to factor the possibility of a small carbon payment into the high cost of establishing areas of new trees.
Mr McCormack said, “The commitment required under the draft methodology is for a forest grower or farmer to maintain the planting for at least twenty-five years – receiving a modest carbon payment each year for the first ten years.
“The additional income will be very minor compared to the very high costs borne over that first ten-year period. This will ensure that only the most sensible choices are made about where to plant trees – such as close to major processing facilities in Tumut and Oberon in NSW, or Gippsland in Victoria, or near Mt Gambier, South Australia, or Bunbury in Western Australia, or in Tasmania.”
More Information on the draft method and instructions on how to provide a submission are available on the Department’s website
