Nature Based Solutions & Carbon
Support for carbon and biodiversity impact projects.
Aus. Carbon Farming Initiative — Plantation Forestry
Qualified Independent Person to make Financial Assessments for Schedule 3 and 4 projects
Forest Management Plan development or review and signoff.
Gold Standard and Verra
Inventory design, training and supervision
Inventory data processing and calculation of carbon sequestration
Exante forecasts developed using a forest estate model
International Voluntary Standards
Our Experience
The Independent Forester team specialises in the evaluation, design, and development of high-integrity Nature-Based Solutions. Our expertise provides clients with a critical advantage, spanning the complex methodologies of Australia’s Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme and leading voluntary markets like Verra and Gold Standard.
We guide partners through the entire asset lifecycle, from initial feasibility studies, due diligence, and sophisticated financial modelling to the official registration of robust carbon projects. Our extensive experience in financial assessment and risk analysis ensures that all initiatives are not only environmentally impactful but also commercially viable. By forecasting credit generation and seamlessly integrating carbon into existing forest estate models, we empower clients to unlock the full economic and ecological potential of their land assets.
Our Services
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Review and sign off as a Qualified Independent Person of Forest Management Plans to be submitted to the Clean Energy Regulator. Independent Forester can also write the Forest Management Plans for proponents.
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Independent Forester can build cash flow models for proposed and current NBS and carbon abatement projects. It uses stochastic modelling (for example, Monte Carlo Simulations) to assess risk.
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Australia’s Carbon Farming Initiative, Continuing plantations (Schedule 3) and Permanent Plantations (Schedule 4) require a financial assessment by a Qualified Independent Person. Independent Forester has completed more than 70 financial assessments for clients.
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Independent Forester can build ‘ex ante’ forest estate models to understand the feasibility of proposed projects. Ex ante estimates are required for projects registered with the Gold Standard. The forest estate models can also forecast wood flows and net cash flow.
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Investors require an understanding of the potential value carbon credits when bidding for plantation assets. Incorporating carbon into forest estate models provides an ideal tool to develop scenarios which evaluate the risks and opportunities.
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Independent Forester is experienced in designing inventory programs to measure and report carbon sequestration so that carbon credits may be issued. It can also train and management inventory staff. It uses the FIRS inventory management system to collect field data, process inventory and calculate volume and carbon sequestered.
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Independent Forester can estimate the Australian Carbon Credit Units generated by a proposed project using the FullCAM model. It can also estimate carbon credits that may be issued under the Gold Standard and Verra afforestation/reforestation methodologies.
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Scenario incorporated into forest estate models are a powerful to evaluate ‘what ifs’. Scenarios are commonly used to evaluate alternative price trends and plantation expansion rates. A change in market assumptions or contract terms may be also compared to a base case. Independent Forester has evaluated potential losses from bush fire and the impact of climate change on yield for investors in forestry assets.
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Independent Forester can incorporate carbon credit yield tables into existing forest estate models to forecast income from carbon abatement.