We declare a ‘loss event’ when a release of carbon from the farm’s soils occurs. This will need to:
- be caused by practices not used in the previous season (e.g. more intensive land preparation), except in the context of a transition to certified organic production;
- be the result of management decisions and not weather events;
- account for more than 5% of the emission reductions and sequestration achieved by you in the programme at that time.
If a loss event occurs:
- Farmers will not have to return money already received;
- Instead, a “buffer” is set up from the first year: 20% of generated certificates are placed in this buffer each year and cannot be sold;
- In the event of a “loss event”, certificates from the buffer will be used to cover the carbon release;
- The farmer will have to contribute the same number of certificates to the buffer again in future years before carbon payments resume;
- If no losses are incurred, after 10 years the certificates in the buffer are sold and farmers will receive their payments.