FullCAM is a modelling tool developed by CSIRO, designed to help landholders participating in the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme. The tool integrates over 50 years of data on climate, soil carbon, plant productivity, and land management to simulate how much carbon your project can sequester and how many Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) it can generate.
By using FullCAM, landholders can assess their carbon farming projects with accuracy. It’s a roadmap for improving land management, increasing productivity, and making sustainable choices for your land.
The Benefits of Using FullCAM
FullCAM is used across various carbon project methodologies, and it plays a crucial role in Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Accounts. The benefits of using FullCAM include:
- Instead of relying solely on field sampling, FullCAM allows us to model carbon sequestration, saving both time and money. This data-driven approach ensures an accurate and efficient process.
- With FullCAM, you can compare different project options quickly. This helps you select the best approach for your land, whether it’s plantation forestry, reforestation, or other carbon farming practices.
- FullCAM gives landholders the power to make data-driven decisions by simulating the long-term impacts of various land management strategies. It can help you understand how changes to your practices could result in increased carbon sequestration and financial returns.
How Does FullCAM Work?
We input data about your land, which is processed to simulate how carbon sequestration will unfold over the life of the project. This can range from 25 to 100 years, depending on the project specifications. FullCAM then estimates how many tonnes of CO2-equivalent (tCO2e) your project will sequester, giving you a detailed idea of your carbon yield.
Key Information FullCAM Needs to Model Your Project
The accuracy of FullCAM’s results depends on the quality of the information entered, so it’s important you’re prepared from the beginning. Some of the details you’ll need include:
- Project Location - Climate and soil conditions vary from region to region, so the location of your project is crucial to accurately modelling carbon sequestration potential.
- Start and End Dates - These dates help define the timeframe for the project and carbon sequestration simulation.
- Tree Species - The type of trees you plan to plant influences how much carbon they can sequester.
- Project Activities - From tree planting and seeding to fertilising and weed control, every activity impacts your project’s success.
How Accurate Are FullCAM Results?
FullCAM uses advanced modelling to calculate the carbon yield from a specific point within your project area. The results are calculated with a resolution of less than 250 square metres, which ensures a high level of detail. However, carbon sequestration can vary across your property, depending on the land’s unique characteristics.
To help you understand these projections, the Carbon Farming Foundation provides property heatmaps. These heatmaps visually display carbon yields across your land, allowing you to identify areas with the highest carbon sequestration potential. This means you can optimise your project and focus on areas that will generate the most credits; and the greatest financial returns.
Using FullCAM at Different Stages of Your Carbon Project
At the Carbon Farming Foundation, we run FullCAM simulations at multiple stages of your project to ensure everything is on track:
1. Feasibility Assessment
Early simulations help estimate how many carbon credits your project is likely to earn.
2. Project Design
During this stage, we make recommendations to your project’s design to maximise carbon sequestration.
3. Registration
When you register your project, FullCAM produces a Forward Abatement Estimate, which outlines the expected carbon sequestration over the crediting period.
4. Offset Reporting
After your project has run for an allocated amount of time, FullCAM is used to model the actual carbon sequestration that has occurred, which is then verified in your Offset Report. Once approved, you’ll receive the ACCUs earned during that period.
Got more questions about FullCAM? Or ready to start your carbon project? Reach out to our team for a free consultation here.
