ANU Green Carbon Study Confirms Native Forest Role in Combating Climate Change
ANU Green Carbon Study Confirms Native Forest Role in Combating Climate Change - AE Smith
| 7 Aug 2008 |
| The Australian National University’s Green Carbon research released this week revealed that Australia’s native eucalypt forests store, on average, around three times more carbon than previously estimated. |
| Greenfleet CEO, Sara Gipton welcomed the research, commenting that “this reflects anecdotal evidence collected through Greenfleet’s reforestation experience and reinforces the validity of reinstating biodiverse native forests as carbon sinks.” The ANU research showed that the largest stocks of carbon are found in the tall wet eucalypt forests of Victoria and Tasmania. These forests support trees up to 80 metres tall and can contain an average of more than 1200 tonnes of carbon per hectare, which is up to 10 times more carbon per hectare than previously realised. The research confirms that natural forests play a critical role in regulating greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and are part of a comprehensive response to climate change. Natural forests are more resilient to climate change because of their diversity including their capacity to regenerate after fires, resistance to pests and adaptation to changes in water, temperature and solar radiation. Keeping existing 14.5 million hectares of eucalypt forest in south-east Australia is effectively retaining 25.5Gt CO2 (or avoided annual emissions of 460Mt CO2 per year for the next 100 years), and allowing logged forests to reach their potential is equivalent to avoiding 136 Mt CO2 per year (ie 24% Australia’s GHG emissions). “Along with avoiding and reducing greenhouse emissions generated by individuals and businesses, protecting Australia’s remaining natural forests and replanting permanent, biodiverse native forests need to be vital elements in Australia’s response to climate change, and showing leadership to other countries with vast forests in our region” Ms Gipton said. To read the ANU Green Carbon study – visit http://epress.anu.edu.au/green_carbon_citation.html |
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| AE Smith takes its responsibility for the protection of the environment and the sustainability of its business very seriously. To help us in the fight against climate change we have partnered with Greenfleet. Greenfleet is the first not-for-profit forestry organisation in Australia to become an Approved Abatement Provider under the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Friendly™ initiative. |
