Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L00682:reg:17:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L00682
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 17 (pt 1/2)
Character Range: 31580–34271

17  Defining strata in the project area
 (1) The project proponent must define one or more strata in the project area, in accordance with the CFI Mapping Guidelines, as areas for which abatement will be calculated in accordance with this Part.
 (2) A stratum must consist of eligible land on which a permanent planting has been established in accordance with section 11 (Project mechanisms).
Note: The extent of a stratum is defined essentially by the stems of the trees in the planting.  See section 18.
 (3) Strata may be defined on the basis of any characteristics that tend to make the growth characteristics of trees in a stratum more uniform.
Note: The following are examples of such characteristics:
• time of planting;
• tree species;
• observed or measured growth trends;
• growing regions;
• climatic conditions;
• soil types;
• disturbance history;
• land management units;
• management regime;
• any other characteristics that may be likely to influence project tree growth.
 (4) The project proponent must define at least one stratum before the submission of the first offsets report.
 (5) The project proponent may define new strata at any time.
Note: New strata may be required by this determination in certain circumstances, for example, in the event of a growth disturbance (see section 19).
 (6) A new stratum may consist of any eligible land in the project area, including land in an existing stratum.
Note: In such a case:
(a) a full inventory will be required (see subsection 85(4)), which is subject to section 19); and
(b)  any superseded strata are reported on under section 21.
 (7) If a new stratum includes part of an existing stratum, then:
 (a) the existing stratum is superseded; and
 (b) another new stratum may be defined from the remainder.
Note: See section 21 for reporting on superseded strata.
 (8) When a stratum is defined:
 (a) it must be given a stratum identifier; and
 (b) its extant project forest boundary and its stratum boundary must be delineated in accordance with section 18; and
 (c) its stratum area must be calculated from the stratum boundary.
 (9) If there is a change to the project trees in a stratum that affects the extant project forest boundary:
 (a) its extant project forest boundary and its stratum boundary must be delineated in accordance with section 18; and
 (b) its stratum area must be calculated from the new stratum boundary.
Example: Subsection (9) might apply if trees near the boundary of the stratum are removed in accordance with section 12 in such a way that re-stratification is not required.
Strata in a pre-existing project
 (10) For a pre-existing project to which section 15 applies, each stratum reported in