Forestry Australia wants the Federal Government to ensure that new ACCU Scheme carbon methods developed for managing native forests are truly ‘nature positive’, of high integrity and robustness, and will support the long-term health and resilience of our native forests and communities. Source: Timberbiz
Acting Forestry Australia President, Dr Bill Jackson said Forestry Australia acknowledged the Australian Government had this week announced a short list of new carbon methods for the ACCU Scheme.
The independent Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) assessed 39 Expressions of Interest submissions for new methods and identified 4 methods for prioritisation:
Improved Native Forest Management in Multiple-use Public Forests
The New South Wales (NSW) Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water proposed a method to stop or slow down harvesting of publicly owned native forests. Not harvesting the forests for timber or letting them grow older before cutting them down, could enable ACCUs to be issued for storing more carbon.
Extending Savanna Fire Management to the Northern Arid Zone
The Indigenous Desert Alliance proposed a method to expand fire management to more areas in Australia, particularly lower rainfall areas across northern Australia. This method could reduce emissions while bringing more economic benefits and opportunities for First Nations communities
The Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation developed a proposal for a method to receive ACCUs by stopping clearing of native forest regrowth. In Queensland for example, farmers can legally clear land for agriculture. This new method could provide an incentive for them to not clear the land and receive ACCUs for the carbon stored in the forest.
Reducing disturbance of coastal and floodplain wetlands by managing ungulates
Ungulates are hooved animals like water buffalo and pigs, which are destroying wetlands in northern Australia.
“Forestry Australia submitted a strong carbon method proposal for consideration under the Proponent-Led Method Development Process for the ACCU Scheme,” he said.
“At this stage, the Forestry Australia-led proposal has not been prioritised; however, we are very encouraged by the advice from the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee that our proposal has excellent alignment with the Offsets Integrity Standards and triage criteria and supported it for development, if or when departmental resources permit,” Dr Jackson said.
“Forestry Australia remains fully supportive of its proposed new carbon method and is looking forward to engaging with the Australian Government to progress its further development in the near future. Forestry Australia calls on the Australian Government to commit more resources to the ACCU Scheme and its proponent-led method development process.
“The proposed method, Enhancing Native Forest Resilience, is focussed on improving the health and resilience of native forests and encouraging active, adaptive management of native forests across all land tenures to assist Australia in meeting its Paris Agreement targets.
“Our proposed method is also based on enabling broader participation in the carbon market, which could include State forest management agencies and national parks managers as well as community groups, not-for-profits, private native forest landowners, and First Peoples.
“Forestry Australia’s method is based on a growing body of published work that shows forests that are actively managed can have greater carbon sequestration and storage potential.
“The proposal encompasses restorative forestry practices and active forest management focused on improving habitat values, carbon stocks and resilience to droughts and wildfires.”
