Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to identify the benefits of increasing carbon in the biosphere, using vegetation and agricultural methods, and to implement a project to reduce emissions or store carbon.

This unit does not cover increasing carbon in soil (refer to AHCCFP401 Increase soil organic carbon using land management practices).

The unit applies to individuals who participate in farming and/or land management activities. It may lead to participation in an approved carbon farming project to generate carbon credits.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Carbon Farming (CFP)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential for performance in this unit of competency but are not explicit in the performance criteria.

Unit Mapping Information

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has increased carbon using vegetation and/or agricultural methods for a designated plot of land, including:

• identified the direct and associated benefits of increasing carbon
• identified method appropriate to plot of land
• assessed risks associated with project methodology
• calculated costs of carbon project
• planned and implemented a project to increase carbon or reduce greenhouse emissions.

Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

• how land use and management practices impact on carbon
• land management vegetation practices that can increase carbon, such as avoiding clearing of native growth, farm forestry, plantations, controlled burning of savanna, and human-induced regeneration of native forest
• agricultural practices that can increase carbon and/or reduce emissions, such as changes to beef cattle herd management, destruction of methane, feeding dietary additives to cows, changed grazing regimes, and improved herd management
• co-benefits of increased carbon, including:

• environmental benefits: improved biodiversity above and below ground, improved air, water and soil quality, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved movement of water across landscape, reduced salinity/erosion/acidification/compaction, increased resilience to drought, and increased land versatility
• social benefits: including increased resilience to drought, more stable and diverse income, healthier people and communities, and improved succession planning
• economic benefits: including diversified income streams, increased farm productivity, access to finance, increased land versatility, new skills and career development, and less income spent on supplements and fertilisers

• informal methods for measuring carbon, including use of plots, and vegetation datasets
• industry-specific carbon calculators
• baseline measurements that allow scope for improvement
• approved methods for vegetation and agriculture-based carbon farming projects
• payments available for increasing carbon levels.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment of skills must take place under the following conditions:

• physical conditions:

• skills must be demonstrated in a workplace setting or an environment that accurately represents workplace conditions

• resources, equipment and materials:

• designated plot of land or animal group
• equipment and resources relevant to method
• access to information about vegetation or agricultural carbon farming methods and practices.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Links

Companion Volumes, including Implementation Guides, are available at VETNet: - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72