Carbon Planning Tool

This tool is designed to guide landholders in carbon planting on their properties. It assesses the proposed Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) sequestration project against mapping undertaken in the Avon NRM region. It takes into consideration the natural resource management benefits from carbon tree planting projects and benefits that can be identified in line with the Regional Natural Resource Management Strategy for the Avon River Basin.

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Competing Land Uses Considerations

In order to be consistent with the Avon Region NRM Plan, carbon plantings in these areas will need to address conflicts with competing land use considerations, such as High Quality Agricultural Land, High Value Water/Groundwater Resources or Population Growth Areas. Proposed plantings will only be deemed consistent with the Avon Region NRM Plan where evidence is provided that the competing land use considerations do not exist or the proposed activity will add value to these land uses.

Accepted activities in these areas are:

  • Plantings that are to be established on unproductive soils (where unproductive soils are soils that are consistently unproductive due to physical or chemical limitations such as shallow depth, acidic subsoils, salinity or poor water holding capacity).
  • Plantings that occupy less than 30% of a farm that include productive and unproductive soils (where farm means any tract of land which is used by a person for agriculture or multiple tracts of land which are used by the same person for agriculture). 
  • Plantings show due consideration for and/or relevant approvals where potential land use conflicts occur with water resources and areas of population growth.

High Biodiversity Value Considerations

In order to be consistent with the Avon Region NRM Plan, carbon plantings in these areas will need to incorporate biodiversity outcomes. These areas are generally close to High Value Biodiversity Areas, Existing Conservation Assets or Rivers and Waterways. Proposed plantings will only be deemed consistent with the Avon Region NRM Plan where evidence is provided that the proposed carbon plantings have incorporated both within site and landscape scale variables that enhance the biodiversity value of the planting. Accepted carbon plantings in these areas should demonstrate consideration of the following factors to enhance biodiversity values:

Within site

  • Ground layer properties, including ground layer vegetation (>2 species) and preservation of litter, rocks or fallen timber.
  • Understorey (shrub) layer, including multiple species (> 3 species) that are self-sustaining and able to reproduce/re-establish over the life of the over storey tree species.
  • Overstorey (tree) layer, including multiple species (>2 species) o Species planted are drawn from species found in the equivalent vegetation type with the regional vicinity and from species suited to anticipated climate change.

Landscape scale

  • Block planting or belt planting that is more than 20m wide.
  • Improves ecological linkages with remnant vegetation, as a buffer, corridor or stepping stone with remnant vegetation within 5km radius of the site.

General Carbon Plantings

In order to be consistent with the Avon Region NRM Plan, all forms of carbon plantings are supported in these areas on the basis that the proposed activities do not conflict with the general guiding principles for carbon plantings in the Avon Region, including:

  • support carbon plantings to mitigate Climate Change
  • protect, restore and enhance natural resources and build landscape resilience
  • protect resilience and cohesion of our communities.

Carbon Planning Tool

This tool is designed for landholders to guide carbon planting activities on their properties.

  • Locate your property or area of interest by using the “Search” bar or the zoom tools on the left of the map.
  • Choose a polygon shape to use to draw your area of interest on the map
  • Draw a polygon around your area of interest on the map using your mouse. You can go back a step or delete a polygon by using the “Undo” and “Clear” buttons.
  • When you are happy with your polygon, press the “Calculate Area” button.
  • It will take a few moments to make the calculations. The tool will generate a table reporting a summary of the area (in hectares) under each of the three recommended carbon planting actives within your polygon. It will also calculate the results as a percentage of the area of your polygon.
  • Print a PDF of the map and report by pressing the “Generate Report” button and save the file to your device. 

Click here to view in full screen

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