Tree clearing in Western Queensland - A cost benefit analysis of carbon sequestration

Environmental and Planning Law Journal

Volumn 17, Issue 5, 2000, Pages 383-405

  Bredhauer, Jacqueline ^a  

^a GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY   (Australia)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 84883650551     PISSN: 0813300X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (77)

1. The major contributors to GHG emissions are: carbon dioxide 64 per cent, methane 20 per cent, nitrous oxide 15 per cent, and halocarbons. At the following website as at 20 June 2000 http://www.environment.gov.au/portfoIio/esd/cIimate/factsheets.
2. Article 3.1 of the Kyoto Protocol requires that: "the Parties included in Annex I [developed countries] shall, individually or jointly, ensure that their aggregate anthropogenic carbon dioxide (man made) equivalent emissions of greenhouse gases do not exceed their assigned amounts calculated pursuant to their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments inscribed in Annex B [that is, in the Kyoto Protocol] in the commitment period 2008 to 2012".
3. This allows countries with emission commitments to conduct projects in countries without emission commitments (that is, developing countries), and for the two to share the credit for emission reductions.
4. Allows for projects, including sink activities, to be conducted between two countries with emission commitments, with the reduction in emissions being used by the investing country to help meet its target.
5. Australian Greenhouse Office, National Emissions Trading-Discussion Paper 3 Crediting the Carbon (1999), 13.
6. AJ Plantigna, J Maudlin, and D Miller, "An Econometric Analysis of the Costs of Sequestering Carbon in Forests", American Journal of Agricultural Economics, (1999) November, Vol 81, p 812.
7. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
8. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
9. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
10. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
11. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
12. See also: Criminal Justice Commission v Queensland Advocacy Inc (1996) 2 Qd R 118 at 124 per Macrossan CJ, at 145 per Demack J.
13. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
14. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
15. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
16. See also: Criminal Justice Commission v Queensland Advocacy Inc (1996) 2 Qd R 118 at 124 per Macrossan CJ, at 145 per Demack J.
17. See also: Criminal Justice Commission v Queensland Advocacy Inc (1996) 2 Qd R 118 at 124 per Macrossan CJ, at 145 per Demack J.
18. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
19. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
20. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
21. R v Trade Practices Tribunal, ex parte St George County Council (1974), 130 CLR 533.
22. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
23. Lauren Leader-Registrar of Queensland Titles Office, Griffith University Property Lecture, 2000.
24. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
25. Lauren Leader-Registrar of Queensland Titles Office, Griffith University Property Lecture, 2000.
26. Lauren Leader-Registrar of Queensland Titles Office, Griffith University Property Lecture, 2000.
27. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
28. See also: Criminal Justice Commission v Queensland Advocacy Inc (1996) 2 Qd R 118 at 124 per Macrossan CJ, at 145 per Demack J.
29. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
30. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
31. Carbon as a legal property right is recognised in New South Wales and Victoria.
32. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
33. Lauren Leader-Registrar of Queensland Titles Office, Griffith University Property Lecture, 2000.
34. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
35. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
36. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
37. R v Trade Practices Tribunal, ex parte St George County Council (1974), 130 CLR 533.
38. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
39. Those stock sold would have to be for the purposes of slaughter and not for breeding purposes, or else their could be no acquittal for overall national emissions.
40. See for example Hodel v Virginia Surface Mining & Reel Ass'n, 452 US 264 (1981), 276-277.
41. See also: Criminal Justice Commission v Queensland Advocacy Inc (1996) 2 Qd R 118 at 124 per Macrossan CJ, at 145 per Demack J.
42. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
43. R v Trade Practices Tribunal, ex parte St George County Council (1974), 130 CLR 533.
44. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
45. See also: Criminal Justice Commission v Queensland Advocacy Inc (1996) 2 Qd R 118 at 124 per Macrossan CJ, at 145 per Demack J.
46. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
47. See also: Criminal Justice Commission v Queensland Advocacy Inc (1996) 2 Qd R 118 at 124 per Macrossan CJ, at 145 per Demack J.
48. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
49. "Remnant vegetation" is defined to be an area of vegetation with a canopy cover of greater than 50 per cent of the usual canopy cover for the vegetation, and a height of more than 70 per cent of the vegetation's usual height. What remains to be seen is who or what will determine the "usual height or canopy", given that the height of tree species can vary with soil conditions and rain patterns.
50. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
51. The Queensland government did put forward a proposition where they would compensate in the order of: $4 million for enterprise adjustments to those properties "heavily impacted" by the new VMA, $15 million for landholders to go beyond compliance to best practice, and a further $22 million in the event that there are any properties that are made unviable and which therefore need to be acquired. This package was put to the Federal government, however the Federal government to date has chosen to not provide any form of compensation.
52. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
53. (1984) 59 AJLR 104 (High Court).
54. For a discussion of this case see Carla Sperling, "Going Down the Takings Path: Private Property Rights and Public Interest in Land-use Decision Making" (1997) 14 EPLJ p 429.
55. D Farrier, "Vegetation Conservation" (1991) 18 MULR, pp 46-48.
56. R v Trade Practices Tribunal, ex parte St George County Council (1974), 130 CLR 533.
57. Article 52 of the Magna Carta states: To any man whom we have deprived or dispossessed of land, castles, liberties or rights, without the lawful judgement of his equals, we will at once restore these.
58. R v Trade Practices Tribunal, ex parte St George County Council (1974), 130 CLR 533.
59. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
60. See also: Criminal Justice Commission v Queensland Advocacy Inc (1996) 2 Qd R 118 at 124 per Macrossan CJ, at 145 per Demack J.
61. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
62. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
63. R v Trade Practices Tribunal, ex parte St George County Council (1974), 130 CLR 533.
64. The Survey and Author in this instance has previously resided in the survey area, and does have a local knowledge of the area.
65. Some landholders however did provide personal details.
66. Studies were been carried out during the writing of this paper (by John Carter and his team at the Department of Natural Resources), however as yet these results have not been made available to the public.
67. Refer back to Table 5.1.1, in Bolivia the assessment is 50 tonnes of carbon per hectare.
68. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
69. nd Ed, Butterworths, 1987), pp 37.
70. Non-grazing time after clearing or paddock resting can occur up to a year, whereby the cleared area is let to naturally regenerate with grasses sown. This non-grazing time can be a considerable expense to landholders and should be considered in future surveys.
71. Elders Pty Ltd, Charleville Branch, Queensland. It is relevant to note that these average commodity princes for 1999 represent some of the lowest commodity prices experienced by landholders in twenty-years. The general decline in rural commodity prices has occurred not only through international trade pressures, but drought and recession.
72. R v Trade Practices Tribunal, ex parte St George County Council (1974), 130 CLR 533.
73. R v Trade Practices Tribunal, ex parte St George County Council (1974), 130 CLR 533.
74. Note: there would some time requirement involved in sequesting the carbon, for example, 10 years at $200-$ 1200 per hectare, or $20-$ 120 per year.
75. The issue of live export sheep/cattle in this scenario would also need to be looked at, that is, would carbon exported still belong to Australia, or is it transferred to that nation receiving those livestock-these to the fact that approximately 30% of Australia's total exports relate to agricultural activity.
76. Mr Lester, Weekly Hansard, 10 December 1999, Vegetation Management Bill 1999 at page 6305, at http://www.parliament.qId.gov.au/hansard as at 19 April 2000.
77. http://statement.cabinet.qld.gov.au/ as at 14/08/2000.