Tree plantations as carbon sinks
 Plantation forests deliver enormous social, economic and environmental benefits.
Trees are increasingly being planted and managed in landscapes for sustainability, rehabilitation and protection purposes. The Ensis Forests and Environment team provides expertise in quantifying the role of forests in greenhouse gas mitigation and evaluating the potential effects of climate change on forest growth and environmental values.
Ensis has strong links with relevant national and international organisations and collaborates with and consults to private industry and governments on a broad range of issues related to forests and climate change.
Ensis scientists have conducted research that supports the use of new forests as carbon sinks. A report which suggested that new forests might increase greenhouse warming through methane emissions rather than decrease it by sequestering CO2 has been tested using data from seven regional case studies of afforestation in Australia.
The findings indicated that the negative impact of methane emissions is small – less than 5% of the benefit derived from carbon sequestration.
For further information on the research findings:
Contact:
Phil Polglase, Ensis Forests and Environment
Email:
Phone: +61 2 6281 8204 |