THE Federal Government has taken the next step in the development of a new savanna burning carbon methodology, with the release of a tool that calculates the carbon credit opportunities on potential project areas.

SavCAM has been released for user testing by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water as part of the development of two new savanna burning methodologies.

Savanna burning projects are done in the high rainfall areas of Northern Australia, based around using early season cool burns to avoid bigger fires later in the year that release more carbon into the atmosphere.

The department says the SavCAM tool can be used for both potential and existing projects. It says it can identify areas of existing projects where more Australian Carbon Credit Units can be issued.

Australia’s largest savanna burning project developer Corporate has welcomed the release of the new tool saying it is a major step forward, but the final method is still needed.

“We congratulate the Department on releasing SavCAM. It’s an essential tool that will help underpin the next generation of SFM methodologies,” said Gary Wyatt, Managing Director of Corporate Carbon Group.

“This is a big win for the climate and a testament to the dedication of rangers, landholders and Traditional Owners across the north.”

Corporate Carbon says for the decade leading up to 2005, savanna emissions averaged 30.6 Mt CO₂-e per year. Since 2016, this has dropped to just 3.4 Mt CO₂-e per year, a dramatic reduction driven by early dry season burning practices supported under the ACCU Scheme.

“This is one of Australia’s most successful nature-based climate tools,” said Wyatt. “Now that SavCAM is out, it’s critical the government moves with this momentum to finalise and release the updated SFM methods.”

Source: Corporate Carbon, DCEEW