Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L00320:reg:51
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L00320
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 51
Character Range: 35391–36844

51  Detection of natural disturbances

 (1) This section applies if:
 (a) a natural disturbance has been detected; and
 (b) the natural disturbance has, or is likely to have, killed trees in more than 5% of the project area.

 (2) The project proponent must:
 (a) identify the natural disturbance on a map; and
 (b) calculate the area, in hectares, of land in each stratum that has been affected by the natural disturbance.

 (3) The natural disturbance is taken to have led to canopy decline in the area affected by the natural disturbance unless the project proponent is able to assess, in accordance with subsection (4), that there has been no canopy decline.

 (4) For subsection (3):
 (a) the assessment must be based on remotely-sensed image of the affected area from:
 (i) no earlier than 6 months before the natural disturbance; and
 (ii) no later than 6 months after the natural disturbance; and
 (b) the resolution  of the images must be at least 30m × 30m.

 (5) The proportion of biomass killed by the natural disturbance is:
 (a) if there has been no canopy decline—zero;
 (b) if there has been canopy decline:
 (i) if the project proponent estimates the proportion of biomass killed by sampling the area affected in accordance with sections 53 to 55—the proportion given by Equation 20; or
 (ii) otherwise—100%.
 (6) In this section:
  canopy decline means a loss of an area of canopy cover equivalent to at least 5% of the project area.