Table 5.2: Summary of selected ERF methodologies in agriculture
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Method
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Scope
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Timeframe
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Emissions targeted
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Baseline
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Calculation
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More information
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Defines the activtities under the methodology
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Timing guidelines and the crediting period a project can apply to claim ACCUs
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Defines the sources of emissions or savings covered by the methodology
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Initial information required to evaluate the baseline case
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The type of calculations or models used for calculating emissions
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Visit the CER page for this method
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Animal effluent management
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For piggeries and dairies to develop new facilities for the treatment of animal effluent by emissions destruction, emissions avoidance or both
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Projects that generate electricity can have up to a 7-year (84 month) crediting period. Projects that do not generate electricity, including projects that flare only, have a 12-year crediting period
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Organic effluent that would normally be treated in an anaerobic pond. Eligible material must be produced by either an eligible animal facility or a facility that produces a particular type or types of material as a waste stream.
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The treatment can reasonably be expected to result in fewer emissions than if the effluent were treated in an anaerobic pond.
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The amount of emissions destroyed or avoided, then subtracting emissions from ineligible material and project emissions, such as from the use of fuel or electricity.
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Beef cattle herd management
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Reduces the emissions intensity of beef cattle production by reducing cattle emissions per kilogram of liveweight produced
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Seven years. It is recommended that the participant select a crediting period start date that is later than the declaration date of the project.
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Improving cattle productivity, reducing the average age of a herd, reducing the proportion of unproductive animals in the herd or changing the number of animals in each livestock class in the herd.
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Each herd must have historical emissions intensity data from the project's reference period, with the emissions intensity reference period calculated using three of the immediate past seven years
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The difference between the herds' historical baseline emissions (minus four per cent) and the herds' emissions following implementation of project activities
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Estimating sequestration of carbon in soil using default values
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Specific project management activities on eligible land that aim to remove carbon from the atmosphere by increasing the amount of carbon added to the soil
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Twenty-five years
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Removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in the soil by setting up project management activities that change agricultural soil conditions to improve crop and pasture growth
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The baseline emissions period is five years before the project starts, representing the level of emissions that would have been produced if your project did not go ahead
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Modelled using the Sequestration Value Maps, with calculations based on default values, instead of measured values. The default values have already been modelled by FullCAM
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Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by feeding dietary additives to milking cows
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Increasing the fat content of a milking cow's diet reduces methane emissions produced as a result of enteric fermentation, done via feeding the following eligible additives to milking cows: canola meal; cold-pressed canola meal; brewers grain; hominy meal; or dried distillers grain.
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Seven years
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Improving feed quality for milking cows in this way means the animals can use energy from the feed more efficiently while enabling faster feed passage through the rumen, reducing the amount of enteric methane released
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Baseline emissions are established by using data from three consecutive years in the seven years prior to the commencement of the project
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The net abatement amount for each milking herd for each project year is calculated by entering data into the Dietary Fats Calculator which is available on the Department of Environment and Energy's website
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Measurement of soil carbon sequestration in agricultural systems
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Credits measured increases in soil carbon as a result of one or more new or materially different management activities in grazing or cropping land (including woody horticulture) that store carbon in that land.
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The project must be maintained for a nominated period of either 100 or 25 years. Proponents can generally nominate the intervals of their reporting periods from one year to a maximum of five years
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Corresponds to the increase in soil carbon over time, after the emissions caused by additional activities used to build soil carbon (for example extra fertiliser applications beyond the baseline) have been subtracted
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Each crediting application requires at least one round of soil sampling, the calculation of net carbon abatement and inclusion of this and other required information in an offset report
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Soil carbon stocks must be estimated using specified soil sampling methods and samples must be measured for soil carbon content using specified laboratory techniques or calibrated in-field sensors.
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Reforestation and afforestation V2.0
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Involves planting forest trees in agricultural areas
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Twenty-five years
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This method helps to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas entering the atmosphere, as carbon remains stored in the trees while they grow
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A permanent planting on land that has been grazed, cropped, or allowed to lie fallow (between grazing and cropping) for at least five years before you apply to run a project. The land must not be cleared native forest and must also be able to support the growth of new forest
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The carbon stored by the project is calculated by directly measuring trees in sample plots using infield measurements, such as full inventory and permanent sample plot assessment.
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Avoided clearing of native regrowth method
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Protection of native forest areas for which clearing consent has previously been issued
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Twenty-five years
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Emissions from fuel use and fires. Carbon stocks in live and dead biomass
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The baseline scenario involves modelling regeneration, clearing, and windrow and burn fires over a 100-year period. The project scenario is also a series of modelled events, which are only modelled as they occur
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The difference between two scenarios is the amount of additional carbon stored as a result of your project. The net amount of abatement for the reporting period is then determined by subtracting any emissions due to fires from the total change in carbon stock.
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Human-induced regeneration of a permanent even-aged native forest
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Enabling native vegetation to regenerate
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Twenty-five years
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Emissions from fuel use and fires. Carbon stocks in live and dead biomass
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The project area must not have any forest cover during the 10 year baseline period. The baseline period is determined by the date land was included in the project
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Net abatement for each reporting period is calculated as the change in the amount of carbon stored in all carbon estimation areas, minus the emissions resulting from fire and fuel used in the process of establishing and maintaining the project.
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