FAQ

Who is Carbon Conscious and what do you do?

Carbon Conscious creates large scale carbon estates to produce accredited carbon offsets. This is done by planting Mallee Eucalypt trees, a native species perfectly adapted to the growing conditions of the Australian wheat belt. 

Carbon Conscious benefits from strong farmer relationships formed over many years by related company Australian Agricultural Contracts Ltd (AACL) which enables Carbon Conscious to work closely with farmers to provide them with access to the emerging carbon credit market and assist with environmental solutions to issues. 

What is a carbon credit?

A carbon credit, equivalent to one tonne of CO2-e, is a generic term used to represent a reduction of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Projects that prevent the generation of greenhouse gases or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere earn carbon credits. Credits can in turn then be "sold" to other businesses and individuals to "offset" the emissions they generate. 

Carbon Conscious has calculated that to produce one carbon credit we need to plant approx 4-7 trees. The trees will remove the CO2-e from the atmosphere over approximately a 30 year period.

What happens when I invest in trees to be planted and managed by Carbon Conscious Ltd?

You will be contributing to the fight against climate change and assisting Australian farmers fight other environmental issues such as salinity and soil erosion. Your trees will become part of a plantation managed under strict guidelines set by the Federal Government to produce carbon credits.
You will receive an environmentally friendly electronic certificate acknowledging your support.

What types of trees do Carbon Conscious plant?

Carbon Conscious plants mallee eucalypt trees because they are adapted to withstand drought conditions and will regenerate (coppice) after fire or physical damage.  The trees are a native species perfectly adapted to the growing conditions of the Australian wheat belt. They are capable of living for hundreds of years and provide significant environmental benefits to farmers.

Who plants the trees?

Carbon Conscious has appointed professional contractors to plant the trees on only Kyoto Compliant land. The process ensures the trees are given the best possible chance of survival.

What is Kyoto compliant land?

Kyoto compliant land is agricultural land that was cleared before 31 December 1989. 

How can I be sure the trees will live?

Carbon Conscious has a rigorous assessment and replant program over the first 12 months following planting and expects 85% or better survival rate.

How do trees sequester (store) carbon?

Carbon in the atmosphere is sequestered (meaning absorbed and stored during photosynthesis) by trees in their stems, leaves, twigs and roots. Fallen leaves and branches also add carbon to the soil where it is stored underground. Carbon is also stored in the large deep rooted system (lignotuber) of the mallee tree.

Where does Carbon Conscious Plant trees?

Importantly the majority of the plantations are on marginal Australian farmland. We work very closely with Australian farmers to identify tracts of land on their farm that are considered less productive.  This results in two significant benefits. Firstly the farmer is able to generate an income from land that previously has not provided a financially viable yield and secondly by integrating trees into the cropping program the environmental benefits assist in improving overall production.

The majority of trees planted by Carbon Conscious will initially be in the Western Australian wheat belt regions. Plans are however in place to expand operations to most Australian states by 2010.

Are my trees planted immediately?

Trees have their best chance of survival if planted in winter. Generally any funds received up to and including June 30 in any financial year will be pooled, and plantings will occur during the following winter. If weather conditions are likely to result in low survival rates, the plantings may be delayed at our discretion.

We often plant surplus trees during winter and as a result you may be allocated trees that are already on their way to being established.

What happens to the carbon sequestered by my trees?

Carbon Conscious will measure the carbon growth of plantations regularly and arrange to have the carbon accredited and registered on a register. Carbon from your trees will be retained on the register as held in trust by Carbon Conscious.

Is there a chance my tree can be on sold (double counting) to another party?

Carbon Conscious will generate carbon credits under the Government’s Carbon Farming Initiative and distributed to participating parties in an orderly manner. Carbon Conscious will also comply with the National Carbon Offset Standard in the voluntary market. Currently an internal registry transaction is kept.

Who maintains my trees?

Carbon Conscious has carbon share farming arrangements with the farmer/landowners where the trees are planted. Your trees will be identified by GPS coordinates and will be treated as for all other trees in the plantation. Together CCF and farmers manage the plantations to reduce weed burdens, control pests and diseases, ensure fire breaks are in place and provide fire control equipment throughout the summer months. Regular inspections of the plantations are arranged and CCF is advised promptly of any unexpected incidents.

How does Carbon Conscious calculate carbon emissions?

The majority of the calculations generated from our emissions calculator are obtained from reference to the National Greenhouse Account (NGA) Factors.

For more details contact info@carbonconscious.com.au

Why would I choose Carbon Conscious to offset my personal or business carbon footprint?

Carbon Conscious is one of very few carbon offset providers that have invested in obtaining accreditation or quality assurance with the Australian Government. We believe that if an individual or an organisation is prepared to invest in offsetting their carbon footprint then they will need to be convinced that they will be delivered guaranteed quality, reliability and certainty.

What accreditation does Carbon Conscious have?

In December 2008, Carbon Conscious Ltd become an Approved Abatement Provider after receiving accreditation under the Australian Government’s Greenhouse FriendlyTM Program for its Mallee Eucalypt Carbon Capture ProgramTM.

Carbon Credits produced under the Carbon Conscious Carbon Capture ProgramTM will be Kyoto Protocol compliant, having passed stringent quality standards set by Federal Government’s Department of Climate Change. To gain accreditation under the Greenhouse FriendlyTM Program, Carbon Conscious was required to demonstrate integrity and credibility in relation to carbon accounting. The process also included demonstrating verifiable measurement and monitoring procedures and systems. It included significant input by industry expert URS Forestry and was independently reviewed by government approved abatement system verifier, GHD.

Why is Greenhouse FriendlyTM accreditation so important?

Because it means the Australian Government certifies the integrity, credibility and quality of the company’s systems, processes and forecasting used under the organisations Carbon Capture Program.

You’re assured of acquiring credible carbon offsets from an approved abatement project that will be Kyoto Protocol compliant.

What does the term ‘verified abatement’ mean?

A verified abatement is effectively a carbon credit or permit (one tone of CO2-e) that has been verified by a third party. In the case of Carbon Conscious our forestry carbon credits are Greenhouse FriendlyTM accredited which means they have been approved by the Australian Federal Government.