Human Induced Regeneration Carbon Projects

Project Requirements  

For Human-Induced Regeneration (HIR) action, the application must include evidence that for at least the last 10 years the land has been non-forest and that current management prevents native forest cover. The baseline period is the 10 years immediately prior to the date that a project application is submitted to the Clean Energy Regulator. 

Activities within the HIR method include management to exclude livestock, and changes to livestock grazing patterns and feed regimes that result in increases in native regeneration to 2 metres in height and 20% canopy cover. Other activities include managing non-native plant species in the area and stopping actions that prevent native regrowth, such as vegetation clearing. Regeneration must arise from existing natural seed beds, rootstocks or lignotubers in the project area. 

Projects are required to meet a ‘permanence obligation’ meaning that the carbon stored in plants will last at least 25 years. 

Pre-Feasibility Reports 

APC has conducted several pre-feasibility reports on pastoral properties. A Pre-feasibility report precedes a full and detailed Feasibility Assessment and is used to assist in a determination to undertake a full Feasibility Assessment.  

A pre-feasibility assessment is a simple desktop study and estimation of the carbon potential of a proposed HIR project site. Potential abatement figures are derived from rudimentary and untested assumptions applied at landscape scale across a proposed site. The pre-feasibility assessment does not factor in management activities and does not quantify or qualify exclusion areas such as established native forests, or infrastructure footprints and may include areas ineligible for a HIR project.     

 

Feasibility Assessments 

On completion of a pre-feasibility report a recommendation is on whether to undertake a full feasibility assessment. This in-depth study provides data and analysis for APC to develop a full feasibility assessment which will evaluate the market, technical, financial, legal, and organisational aspects of developing a HIR project on the nominated sites. 

This robust study is required with fine grained data to stratify the project, map exclusion zones, establish and quantify CEAs, validate with ground surveys and remote sensing to provide qualitative and quantitative analysis against the HIR methodology.  

The process includes identification and modelling the landholders management plans, stratification of the project area into carbon estimation areas (CEA) calculating anticipated abatement, and potential carbon credits with aboveground carbon sequestration modelled using the FullCAM tool.   

 

Project Services 

If a feasibility assessment supports a Carbon Project on the identified property APC offers a full service to register and manage the project in its entirety. In addition to providing Project Services, APC can include the provision of broader ecosystem and other services.