Q-2, r. 35.3.1 - Regulation respecting afforestation and reforestation projects eligible for the issuance of offset credits on privately-owned land

Section 14 Disposition versions

2022-12-29

14. For the purposes of this Regulation,

(1)  an annual carbon stock cannot contribute, beyond a 100-year period following its sequestration, to the determination of the number of offset credits to be issued;

(2)  GHG fluxes can only be considered as attributable to an eligible project for the quantification provided for in this Title if they have not already been covered by the issuance of offset credits under the Regulation respecting a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances (chapter Q-2, r. 46.1) or the issuance of credits under another program to compensate for GHG emissions;

(3)  in the case of an early project, the promoter may include sequestrations in the project outcome if they are realized after 31 December 1989 but before 29 December 2022.

However, when the issuance of offset credits has already been requested for carbon sequestrations under another GHG emissions offset program, the promoter may include those sequestrations in the project outcome if

(a)  when the project is filed with the Minister, the credits for which the promoter intends to consider carbon sequestrations in the project outcome are no longer available to compensate for GHG emissions in the program for which they were issued.

The promoter must, if intending to consider the credits in the project outcome, cancel the credits and provide proof that they can no longer be used to compensate for GHG emissions under the former program to compensate for GHG emissions;

(b)  the credits for which the promoter intends to consider carbon sequestrations in the project outcome must not have been sold or redeemed otherwise than between the person to whom the program to compensate for GHG emissions issued the credits and the promoter of the project implemented pursuant to this Regulation;

(4)  for the purposes of this Regulation, in the case of an early project, only the effect of GHG fluxes on radiative forcing after 31 December 2006 may lead to the issuance of offset credits.

Table 1 Overview of the approaches used to determine the carbon stock present in a project’s carbon reservoirs

Carbon reservoir	Approach used to determine the carbon stock
Living aerial biomass	The carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated using the measurements made for the initial inventory and the issuance inventory in accordance with Division III of Chapter III of this Title.
	The information and data from the inventories, which are needed to simulate the annual changes in carbon in the reservoir for the baseline scenario and project scenario, must be entered into the CBM-CFS software.
Living below-ground biomass	The initial carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated using Table 7.
	The results of the calculations are entered into the CBM-CFS software to simulate carbon changes in the baseline scenario and project scenario.
	For the issuance inventory, the carbon stock present in this reservoir is determined by the CBM-CFS software based on the information and data used to update the baseline scenario and project scenario.
Dead biomass	The carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated using the measurements made for the initial inventory and the issuance inventory in accordance with Division III of Chapter III of this Title.
	The information and data from the inventories, which are needed to simulate the annual changes in carbon in the reservoir for the baseline scenario and project scenario, must be entered into the CBM-CFS software.
Soil	The carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated using the measurements made for the initial inventory and the issuance inventory provided for in Division IV of Chapter III of this Title and analyzed in the laboratory in accordance with Schedule C.
	The information and data from the inventories, which are needed to simulate the annual changes in carbon in the reservoir for the baseline scenario and project scenario, must be entered into the CBM-CFS software.
	The promoter must include this reservoir in the inventory and quantification when more than 25% of the area of the lot or part of a lot for the project is disturbed by site preparation work to plant seedlings or sow seeds.
Timber forest products	The carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated by the CBM-CFS software using the results from the simulation of annual changes in the carbon contained in the reservoir of merchantable timber in the baseline scenario and project scenario.
	The promoter must enter the results of this estimate into the calculation tool in accordance with Division III of Chapter IV of this Title to determine the effect of processing the volume of timber into timber forest products on radiative forcing.

Table 2 Overview of the anthropogenic activities and natural processes to be taken into consideration to determine the project outcome

Anthropogenic activity or natural process	GHG	Description
Construction and maintenance work on a network of trails and roads existing at the project start date or to be developed during the project	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the deforestation of a portion of the lot or part of a lot for the project to maintain the network of trails and roads existing at the project start date or to be developed.
		Included only when the project has a leakage for a reporting period, in accordance with the Chapter VII of this Title.
Site preparation work to plant seedlings or sow seeds (for example, scarifying)	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with soil disturbances.
		The promoter must measure the effect of the soil disturbance in accordance with Division IV of this Chapter III and Schedule C. Once the effect of soil disturbance on the carbon reservoir in the soil has been measured, the promoter must enter the result into the CBM-CFS software.
		Included only when more than 25% of the area of the lot or part of a lot for the project is disturbed by site preparation work to plant seedlings or sow seeds.
Spreading of inorganic nitrogenous fertilizer	N2O	GHG fluxes associated with the application of organic or inorganic nitrogenous fertilizer.
		The promoter must complete equation 8 and enter the result in the calculation tool.
Plantation release as part of plantation maintenance	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the decomposition of competing biomass.
		The CBM-CFS software applies the silvicultural strategy entered by the promoter and distributes the carbon fluxes between reservoirs based on the type of treatment.
Precommercial thinning of the plantation as part of precommercial management work	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the decomposition of the saplings removed.
		The CBM-CFS software applies the silvicultural strategy entered by the promoter and distributes the carbon fluxes between reservoirs based on the definition of the treatment.
Partial or total harvest of merchantable volumes of timber for processing	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the harvesting of some or all of the trees in the plantation.
		The CBM-CFS software applies the silvicultural strategy entered by the promoter and distributes the carbon fluxes between reservoirs based on the definition of the treatment.
Use of fossil fuels for the purposes of the project	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the combustion of fossil fuels, in particular gasoline and diesel fuel, for the implementation of the silvicultural strategy associated with the project.
	CH4
	N2O	The promoter must complete equations 9 and 10 and enter the result in the calculation tool.
Carbon leakage	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the deforestation of an area belonging to the owner of the lot or part of a lot for the project.
		The promoter must determine if there is a leakage by completing equations 11.1 and 12.
		In the event of a leak, the promoter must calculate the carbon stock returned to the atmosphere for the baseline scenario and project scenario using the CBM-CFS software.
		Included only when the project has a leak for a reporting period, in accordance with Chapter VII of this Title.
Timber forest products	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the transfer of part of the living aerial biomass to timber forest products and their degradation.
Soil	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the transfer of part of the biomass to the carbon reservoir in the soil.
Biomass	CO2	Fluxes associated with the transfer of CO2 from the atmosphere to living biomass and dead biomass.

Table 3 – Conversion table to be used to determine the carbon stock present in the carbon reservoirs for a project

From	To
1 t anhydrous biomass	0.5 t carbon
1 t carbon	3.667 t CO2
1 acre	0.4046 ha
1 ha	10,000 m²

M.O. 2022-11-17, s. 14; I.N. 2023-01-01.

Not in force

In force: 2022-12-29

14. For the purposes of this Regulation,

(1)  an annual carbon stock cannot contribute, beyond a 100-year period following its sequestration, to the determination of the number of offset credits to be issued;

(2)  GHG fluxes can only be considered as attributable to an eligible project for the quantification provided for in this Title if they have not already been covered by the issuance of offset credits under the Regulation respecting a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emission allowances (chapter Q-2, r. 46.1) or the issuance of credits under another program to compensate for GHG emissions;

(3)  in the case of an early project, the promoter may include sequestrations in the project outcome if they are realized after 31 December 1989 but before 29 December 2022.

However, when the issuance of offset credits has already been requested for carbon sequestrations under another GHG emissions offset program, the promoter may include those sequestrations in the project outcome if

(a)  when the project is filed with the Minister, the credits for which the promoter intends to consider carbon sequestrations in the project outcome are no longer available to compensate for GHG emissions in the program for which they were issued.

The promoter must, if intending to consider the credits in the project outcome, cancel the credits and provide proof that they can no longer be used to compensate for GHG emissions under the former program to compensate for GHG emissions;

(b)  the credits for which the promoter intends to consider carbon sequestrations in the project outcome must not have been sold or redeemed otherwise than between the person to whom the program to compensate for GHG emissions issued the credits and the promoter of the project implemented pursuant to this Regulation;

(4)  for the purposes of this Regulation, in the case of an early project, only the effect of GHG fluxes on radiative forcing after 31 December 2006 may lead to the issuance of offset credits.

Table 1 Overview of the approaches used to determine the carbon stock present in a project’s carbon reservoirs

Carbon reservoir	Approach used to determine the carbon stock
Living aerial biomass	The carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated using the measurements made for the initial inventory and the issuance inventory in accordance with Division III of Chapter III of this Title.
	The information and data from the inventories, which are needed to simulate the annual changes in carbon in the reservoir for the baseline scenario and project scenario, must be entered into the CBM-CFS software.
Living below-ground biomass	The initial carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated using Table 7.
	The results of the calculations are entered into the CBM-CFS software to simulate carbon changes in the baseline scenario and project scenario.
	For the issuance inventory, the carbon stock present in this reservoir is determined by the CBM-CFS software based on the information and data used to update the baseline scenario and project scenario.
Dead biomass	The carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated using the measurements made for the initial inventory and the issuance inventory in accordance with Division III of Chapter III of this Title.
	The information and data from the inventories, which are needed to simulate the annual changes in carbon in the reservoir for the baseline scenario and project scenario, must be entered into the CBM-CFS software.
Soil	The carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated using the measurements made for the initial inventory and the issuance inventory provided for in Division IV of Chapter III of this Title and analyzed in the laboratory in accordance with Schedule C.
	The information and data from the inventories, which are needed to simulate the annual changes in carbon in the reservoir for the baseline scenario and project scenario, must be entered into the CBM-CFS software.
	The promoter must include this reservoir in the inventory and quantification when more than 25% of the area of the lot or part of a lot for the project is disturbed by site preparation work to plant seedlings or sow seeds.
Timber forest products	The carbon stock present in this reservoir is estimated by the CBM-CFS software using the results from the simulation of annual changes in the carbon contained in the reservoir of merchantable timber in the baseline scenario and project scenario.
	The promoter must enter the results of this estimate into the calculation tool in accordance with Division III of Chapter IV of this Title to determine the effect of processing the volume of timber into timber forest products on radiative forcing.

Table 2 Overview of the anthropogenic activities and natural processes to be taken into consideration to determine the project outcome

Anthropogenic activity or natural process	GHG	Description
Construction and maintenance work on a network of trails and roads existing at the project start date or to be developed during the project	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the deforestation of a portion of the lot or part of a lot for the project to maintain the network of trails and roads existing at the project start date or to be developed.
		Included only when the project has a leakage for a reporting period, in accordance with the Chapter VII of this Title.
Site preparation work to plant seedlings or sow seeds (for example, scarifying)	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with soil disturbances.
		The promoter must measure the effect of the soil disturbance in accordance with Division IV of this Chapter III and Schedule C. Once the effect of soil disturbance on the carbon reservoir in the soil has been measured, the promoter must enter the result into the CBM-CFS software.
		Included only when more than 25% of the area of the lot or part of a lot for the project is disturbed by site preparation work to plant seedlings or sow seeds.
Spreading of inorganic nitrogenous fertilizer	N2O	GHG fluxes associated with the application of organic or inorganic nitrogenous fertilizer.
		The promoter must complete equation 8 and enter the result in the calculation tool.
Plantation release as part of plantation maintenance	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the decomposition of competing biomass.
		The CBM-CFS software applies the silvicultural strategy entered by the promoter and distributes the carbon fluxes between reservoirs based on the type of treatment.
Precommercial thinning of the plantation as part of precommercial management work	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the decomposition of the saplings removed.
		The CBM-CFS software applies the silvicultural strategy entered by the promoter and distributes the carbon fluxes between reservoirs based on the definition of the treatment.
Partial or total harvest of merchantable volumes of timber for processing	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the harvesting of some or all of the trees in the plantation.
		The CBM-CFS software applies the silvicultural strategy entered by the promoter and distributes the carbon fluxes between reservoirs based on the definition of the treatment.
Use of fossil fuels for the purposes of the project	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the combustion of fossil fuels, in particular gasoline and diesel fuel, for the implementation of the silvicultural strategy associated with the project.
	CH4
	N2O	The promoter must complete equations 9 and 10 and enter the result in the calculation tool.
Carbon leakage	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the deforestation of an area belonging to the owner of the lot or part of a lot for the project.
		The promoter must determine if there is a leakage by completing equations 11.1 and 12.
		In the event of a leak, the promoter must calculate the carbon stock returned to the atmosphere for the baseline scenario and project scenario using the CBM-CFS software.
		Included only when the project has a leak for a reporting period, in accordance with Chapter VII of this Title.
Timber forest products	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the transfer of part of the living aerial biomass to timber forest products and their degradation.
Soil	CO2	GHG fluxes associated with the transfer of part of the biomass to the carbon reservoir in the soil.
Biomass	CO2	Fluxes associated with the transfer of CO2 from the atmosphere to living biomass and dead biomass.

Table 3 – Conversion table to be used to determine the carbon stock present in the carbon reservoirs for a project

From	To
1 t anhydrous biomass	0.5 t carbon
1 t carbon	3.667 t CO2
1 acre	0.4046 ha
1 ha	10,000 m²

M.O. 2022-11-17, s. 14; I.N. 2023-01-01.