Research finds native forests key to climate solution

Australian National University has shown that unlogged native forests store three times more carbon than previously thought. Blue Tier, Tasmania. Photo: Kip Nunn

Research from leading scientists at the Australian National University has found that Australia has some of the most carbon-dense forests in the world – with the potential to sequester carbon equivalent to 25% of our current annual emissions over a 100 year time frame.

The research identifies that Australia has some of the most carbon dense forests on Earth – more dense than those often found in tropical rainforests – and that logging and clearing them has significant climate implications.

An urgent end to logging of the carbon dense native forests in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania is now needed to ensure they play their crucial role in Australia’s fight against climate change.

The new Australian publication has pulled together findings from research conducted in Australia and overseas over the past 10 years and developed a new methodology for measuring the ‘carbon carrying capacity’ of Australia’s forests and woodlands. The research has global application at the methodology and policy level, and has shown that our native forests are capable of storing far more carbon than plantations.

These ANU research findings should prompt governments to take a fresh and un-biased look at the role protecting and restoring native forests could play in helping Australia make the deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions needed within the next 10 years.

State and federal governments have to date failed to examine two critical issues: how much carbon dioxide could be prevented from entering the atmosphere if logging of native forests is stopped and how much carbon dioxide could be pulled out of the atmosphere if native forests are allowed to recover from logging.

Given that Australia has enough plantations to meet almost all our timber needs and that every other major greenhouse gas emitter is being asked to substantially reduce emissions, it seems absurd to exempt the forestry sector from close examination.

• Download a synopsis of the Green Carbon Report - prepared by The Wilderness Society (PDF 340KB)
• View ANU's 'Green Carbon - The role of natural forests in carbon storage'