Landowners able to earn credits from forest regeneration

Dreyfus said a new methodology under the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) would benefit landholders as well as the environment.

"Once this methodology is made, landholders will be able to earn carbon credits for promoting naturally-occurring regrowth. For example, credits could be generated by temporarily fencing off areas to stop saplings from being trampled, or by removing weeds that compete with the regrowth for nutrients," he said.

"Regenerating areas of native forest is much easier than manually sowing seeds or planting seedlings and also improves local biodiversity values."

The new methodology is based on one made earlier this year for environmental plantings and uses the same CFI Reforestation Modelling Tool. It is currently proceeding through the Domestic Offsets Integrity Committee assessment process.

The methodology proposal Human-Induced Regeneration of a Permanent Even-Aged Native Forest is open for public comment until 26 September.

The methodology proposal and further information on the Carbon Farming Initiative are available at www.climatechange.gov.au/cfi.