Kimberley carbon report | Kimberley carbon farming case study | Biodiverse Planting Guidelines
Potential carbon credit generating methodologies for the Kimberley
The following emission reduction or carbon sequestration projects may be applied in the subregion at some point in the future. To create this list, known methodologies were assessed against two basic criteria to determine if they were subregionally applicable: Firstly, does the biology of the subregion, the subregional climate and vegetation classes (or other key variable) allow the methodology to be able to be used in the subregion? And secondly, what is the professional best judgement as to the likely rate of uptake of an approved version of the methodology in the future? It should be noted that this assessment was qualitative, and individual situations, circumstances or desires may lead to higher or lower than predicted uptake of particular project types in the subregion.
Methodologies are divided into those approved for use and those still in development.
Approved Methodologies
Emissions avoidance
Involves the use of controlled fire management across savannas in the fire prone tropical north of Australia to:
- Reduce the area of a project that is burnt each year, and/or
- Shift the seasonality of this burning from the late dry season (LDS) towards the early dry season (EDS).
The result of a shift from predominantly LDS to predominantly EDS fires is a net reduction in fuel consumed per unit area and area burnt.
Carbon sequestration
Involves the establishment and management of permanent native forests that increase removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The abatement activity includes planting and/or seeding native species on cleared or partially cleared land.
Human-Induced regeneration of a permanent even-aged native forest
Involves the sequestration of carbon in permanent forests of native species. Uses the Reforestation Modelling Tool to determine carbon sequestration in tree biomass. The forest is established by human induced regeneration through the cessation of activities causing the suppression or destruction of vegetation regrowth.
Methodologies under Development
Emission Reduction
Reduction of emissions of methane through the application of a feed supplement to dairy cows
Proposal to provide a feed supplement to dairy cows with an aim to reduce the amount of methane emitted by the animals (calculated on a per unit of milk produced basis).
Emission avoidance
Management of large feral herbivores (camels) in the Australian rangelands
The methodology involves the removal of feral camels with the emissions reduction benefit based on the difference between the estimated age of the animal at removal and the predicted average age of natural mortality.
Carbon sequestration
Measurement-based methodology for farm forestry projects
Covers the establishment of trees on agricultural land that was previously clear of woody vegetation. The methodology is designed for use in farm forestry and this activity may involve the periodic removal of commercial and non-commercial above-ground biomass from the site.
Carbon storage
Native forest protection projects
Involves the protection of native forests through the prevention of clearing and clear-felling harvesting activities. Includes reduction in logging rates and creation of credits for avoided deforestation, where a project proponent chooses to not clear fell a forest where they hold the legal right and permit to do so.
Native forest from managed regrowth
Estimates greenhouse gas abatement achieved by human-induced native forest re-growth. The principal carbon pools estimated are in the tissues of woody plants, and include coarse woody debris on the forest floor.
Involves changed grazing land management through the management of hydrological processes, reduction fire intensity and frequency and modification of grazing practises to increase standing carbon stocks.