Central Australia Project #1

The landholders partnered with RegenCo to implement a vegetation carbon project and to consider mitigating the suppression factors of native forest regeneration. Once the registration of the 25 year HIR project was achieved, RegenCo created a HIR management plan, a Permanence Plan, a Grazing Management Plan and an Activity plan, in collaboration with the landholders, after extensive visits to the property.

In 2023, RegenCo, together with the landholders, devised a HIR management plan outlining practice changes that initiated and maintained native forest regeneration in areas subject to historical grazing suppression. The plan allowed for protection of tree regrowth to ensure permanence obligations, all whilst taking into consideration the continuation of the cattle business.

These management activities included:

• Managing the timing and the extent, of grazing the management, in a humane manner, of feral animals.
• Control of weeds or plants that are not native to the project area.
• Management of hydrological processes to manage erosion and enable increased regeneration
• Management of risk of wildfire to ensure regenerating land condition and forest are not disturbed or reversed.

Later in 2023 the property underwent field survey, drone LiDAR survey of the field sites and fence line to fence line aerial LiDAR capture, enabling a Digital Twin of the pastoral lease to be created.

Broad Practice Changes

Introducing revised cattle management strategies to support the specific goals of carbon tree species regeneration is the overarching business objective to which all decisions are anchored, with a focus on proactive management.

• The inclusion of digital imagery to consider ecological, hydrological, and geographical factors allows the landholder to determine both effective and efficient practices to complement pastoral and carbon project goals separately. For example, the efficiency of existing water points was assessed leading to the adjustment of infrastructure such as fencelines or waterpoint placement. These changes ensure that grazing areas are maximised for cattle while also minimising grazing pressure on regenerating carbon areas.
• A Grazing Management Plan was created to reduce the risk of cattle overgrazing grasses, leading to the browsing on regenerating HIR tree species. Most HIR species are secondary browse, meaning they are not the primary forage choice for cattle, which generally prefer grasses and other palatable plants in the landscape. The plan focuses on strategic grazing management, including seasonal adjustments of cattle numbers around water points and resting carbon regeneration areas from grazing during critical growth periods. For example, the landholder’s mustering frequency increased to reduce cattle numbers in a more proactive manner.
• A Permanence Plan was created to assess the risk of removal and destruction of regenerating carbon species. The highest risk being the spread of wildfires caused by lightning strikes or accidental ignition from bordering roadways & railway. The landholders increased the number and width of fire breaks around the station.
• An Activity Plan brings all the above strategic tools into a 6-12 monthly summary of the activities the landholder will undertake to meet the goals of the combined cattle and carbon business.

RegenCo’s Data-Driven Approach

RegenCo uses a combined airborne-LiDAR and satellite spectral mapping approach. We are the first HIR project in Australia to do so for the whole property.

LiDAR data captures precision tree and sapling height and width information – which is essential for understanding where mature and regenerating trees are – while spectral data helps identify tree species.

Finally, detailed ground surveys are conducted.

These data and our mapping methods allow us to identify regeneration with precision, and allow our land holder to balance environmental and economic outcomes and with sensible management.

• Field surveys were conducted across September-October 2023
• Drone LiDAR was collected in December 2023,
• Aerial LiDAR was collected in November 2023.

The HIR project sets important new precedents. RegenCo’s partnership with Agronomeye – a digital twinning platform – and the comprehensive adoption of airborne LiDAR technology across the whole station, sets a new benchmark for integrity and transparency by rigorously baselining and measuring carbon sequestered by this project. 

• Baseline dates: 15/2/2012 – 15/2/2022
• Number of CEAs: 1,747
• Stratified CEA area: 171,180 ha
• Areas excluded: 
  • Baseline Forest
  • Project commencement Forest
  • Not Carbon Estimation (NCE) areas.
  • Recent fire impacted areas
  • Other non project areas include: 
    • Fence lines
    • Roads and tracks
    • Buildings
    • Waterpoints and surrounding yards
    • Firebreaks

Stratification is a process that classifies the area of a carbon farming project into different categories. For HIR projects specifically, these categories are i)existing forest cover (which can not earn carbon credits), areas of regeneration (called “carbon estimation areas” or “CEAs”), and areas unlikely to be able to support sufficient trees to become forest. Stratifications are updated over time.

• RegenCo’s initial stratification process involved the composite of two Sentinel-2 images (captured in October 2023) along with several aerial LiDAR derived data to generate an initial stratification. 
• Image classification was conducted using proven algorithms in remote sensing land cover and vegetation analysis. 
• ArcGIS Pro v3.1.2 was used to perform unsupervised and supervised classifications at various stages of the classification process. 
• For initial stratification, a support vector machine (SVM) classification was employed via python scripting. Aggregation was performed using Group and Nibble in ArcGIS Pro with a 20-pixel setting. These settings meant the resulting classification was appropriately representing areas of 0.2 ha or greater. 
• In order to verify the stratification classes via field survey and aerial drone tools, a stratified random sampling approach was employed to ensure a robust representation of spectral, spatial and vegetation characteristics across the property, within reasonable distances (between approximately 75 and 500 m) from accessible tracks and roads. 
• A total of 249 random field validation plots were surveyed on-ground by expert ecologists with region specific knowledge, as well as by drones, in 30m x 30m quadrats oriented with magnetic north between 15 September 2023 and 5 October 2023. The drone survey used LiDAR and RGB sensors to capture crown cover, vegetation classification by height, LiDAR point cloud and RGB orthomosaics.

• Once this information was collated, the projected mature crown cover was calculated based on stem counts of woody veg species currently less than 2 m but likely to exceed 2 m, and their corresponding mature crown diameter. Combining this with the current crown cover above 2 m in each plot provided a calculation of the total mature crown cover above 2 m for each plot. 

• The plots were then classified as being representative of Forest, CEAs, or NCE (Not Carbon Estimation areas) by incorporating all the data collected from the field including all species and stem measurements, crown cover,  observations, photographs and any comments. 
• Of the 249 plots, 238 were used for calibration and validation. To split the field data into calibration and validation sets, each plot was assigned to calibration or validation data using a random approach, at a 70:30 ratio (n = 166:72). 
• Aerial LiDAR data was collected via plane and covered the full extent of the property’s cadastral boundary between September 2023 and October 2023. A wide range of data products were created from the aerial data and then integrated into the image composite used in supervised classification and ultimately used to inform the training data for the stratification. The final classes within the initial stratification included: CEA, Forest and NCE. 
• To identify baseline forests, remote sensing analyses were conducted on three historical images that represent the start, middle and end of the baseline period. Three images across the baseline period ensured there was sufficient temporal coverage across this period. These images included Sentinel-2 images acquired in November 2022 and December 2017 and a Landsat-5 image acquired in April 2011. 
• The map accuracy assessment for CEA and Forest classes was based on the withheld validation field sites and showed a 93.9% overall accuracy. 
• All areas that were not CEAs and were identified as project commencement forest, baseline forest, NCEs were defined as exclusion areas and removed from the project strata. CEAs were then aggregated into units of similar ecological characteristics and species mixed using maximum above-ground biomass spatial data. Fire history was also taken into account when aggregating CEAs into units. Any small CEAs were grouped into CEA parts, and all parts fell within a 1.5 km radius. There are a total of 1,714 CEAs covering an approximate area of 171,181 ha.

Management of Fire & Mitigation Activities

• Wildfires are a major risk to the existing and regenerating vegetation for carbon sequestration. The release of sequestered carbon by unmanaged wildfires during a project’s lifespan can have serious commercial impacts of carbon farming by reducing the amount of eligible ACCUs.
• Mulga and other immature woody vegetation are fire sensitive and can lead to death after moderate-high intensity fires.
• Fire-free intervals of less than 15 years can result in a decline in the mulga component of the vegetation therefore limit the ability of the landscape to sequester carbon.
• Wildfires must be accounted for in carbon accounting models (FullCAM) when claiming for ACCUs.
• The release of sequestered carbon by unmanaged wildfires during a project’s lifespan can have serious commercial impacts on carbon farming by reducing the amount of eligible ACCUs.
• Wildfire and the use of prescribed fire need to be managed as part of property management activities.
• The objective of fire mitigation is to reduce the severity and risk of harmful wildfires to CEA areas and valued pastures through a multifaceted approach.
• Measures were taken to manage wildfires on the property, including the widening of fire breaks and associated asset protection burns and increased diligence in fighting all wildfires as they occur (safety permitting).
• By reducing widespread bushfires on the property, plant growth (and therefore cattle feed) was protected, ensuring sufficient feed to negate the need for cattle to eat HIR species. This, in turn promoted HIR species regeneration, maintaining the permanence of regenerating forest.

RegenCo creates a permanence plan for each of our projects. Every 6-12 months, we meet with landholder to discuss specifics around a risk assessment, where we come up with the specific activities – such as water points – for the landholder to be doing, taking into account seasonal conditions, the amount of grass, fires on neighbouring properties, and the amount of firebreaks on the property.

The fire risk in the rangelands of Central Australia varies through time. The seasonal risk for fires is monitored through resources such as:

• Historical fire information (Fire mapping)
• The Australasians Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) seasonal fire outlook as well as BoM’s recent climatic conditions and long range seasonal outlook.
• Australian Flammability Monitoring System by Bushfires and Natural Hazards CRC
• Using remote sensing applications to assess fractional cover, ground cover %, total standing dry matter, and grass curing index’s.
• On-ground monitoring from land managers

There are a range of generic as well as property-specific risks that need to be actively managed:

• Railway line corridor
• Accidental and deliberate human and mechanical ignitions from public access roads.
• Fire travelling in from neighbouring stations and properties
• Spinifex or high fuel loads that interface with Carbon Estimate Areas.
• Lightning strike ignition, especially in Spinifex country
• Minimal or insufficient fire breaks or fire access tracks throughout the property.
• Accidental ignitions from farm machinery and infrastructure on the property.
• Prescribed fire getting out of control.
• Lack of station/staff capabilities to fulfil required activities.
• Mining and prospectors

In December 2023, a fire ignited on the property, presumably from a lightning strike from a thunderstorm following extremely high temperatures and moderate winds. See the map below of where the fire occurred:

• The fire was burning in a difficult to access area in the SE of the station and spread into neighbouring stations to the east and south.
• The fire was extinguished with a combination of the landholder’s efforts and self-extinguishing with changes in fuel availability and weather conditions.
• Multiple days of firefighting jointly with the neighbouring landholders were conducted in an effort to contain its spread. Graders creating fire breaks was the main activity used.
• RegenCo visited the property to assess the severity of the fire impact. Scientific plots were selected for ground truthing and drone imaging to assess and test the severity rating.

Fire impact on the HIR carbon project:

• The fire affected an area of approximately 9,350ha’s on the HIR project area.
• The assessment on the area burnt showed minimal survivorship of regenerating tree species therefore the CEAs affected would not generate ACCUs. This paused status remained until new regeneration occured and surpassed the carbon stock prior to fire.

Ongoing Monitoring & Management Post-issuance

In partnership with the landholders, RegenCo develops a Grazing management plan which focuses on the development of the station’s HIR carbon project in conjunction with their cattle business. However, the management of a station is dynamic. Work on the station continues, even after the project starts issuing credits. 

There are many activities carried out in the period between field surveys and the 5-year regeneration checks which are required by the CER. To ensure the project keeps regenerating, storing and sequestering carbon, an annual work program (Activity Plan) captures the Management & Permanence activities undertaken on the property, factoring in seasonal conditions, vegetation response to the management interventions and the stage of development of the business. This Activity Plan is revised 6 to 12 monthly, recording the eligible project activities that have contributed to HIR species regeneration. In addition, RegenCo makes at least one site visit each year. 

RegenCo utilises ongoing monitoring and management so that the cattle business and tree regeneration can occur harmoniously. For example, by assessing the seasonal conditions, an estimate of feed available to cattle and the number of cattle at each water point, some water points may be rested or numbers reduced to ensure regeneration continues. 

We use remote sensing tools like the Northern Australian fire indicator (NAFI) and Fire Watch, where we are able to monitor current fires and historical fire scars in real-time.

These activities form part of the ongoing monitoring and management of a project once it has been conditionally registered as a project with the Clean Energy Regulator.