Overview
This method allows ACCUs to be earned for activities that increase carbon stored in trees grown for timber or environmental purposes. Plantation forestry can combine timber production with carbon storage.
There are four activity types under the method:
- Establishing a new plantation
- Converting a short rotation plantation to a long rotation plantation
- Continuing forestry where it would otherwise be converted to non-forested land
- Transitioning to a permanent planting
The science
As trees photosynthesise, they absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and convert it into cellulose and lignin, which are the main components of wood. This process locks carbon into biomass, as long as the trees and harvested wood products remain intact. Even when timber is harvested, long-lived wood products, such as furniture and building materials, continue to store that carbon.
Key project steps
- Establish project eligibility
- Use FullCAM to model land use or management change
- Register the project with the Clean Energy Regulator
- Report on project activities and calculated project abatement
Co-benefits
Projects using this method can:
- Provide renewable timber and biomass for energy
- Reduce pressure on native forests
- Improve soil health and water retention
Find out more about the Plantation forestry method.