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Investigating the Possible Use of Carbon Sequestration for Wetland Restoration. ISDE7 Perth 23-25 August 2011. Robert Wocheslander Richard Harper. Background. Wetlands -what are the issues? Around 75% of the wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain lost or degraded Causes are known - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Investigating the Possible Use of Carbon
Sequestration for Wetland Restoration
ISDE7 Perth 23-25 August 2011
Robert WocheslanderRichard Harper
Background
Wetlands -what are the issues?
Around 75% of the wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain lost or degraded
Causes are known
Knowledge for restoration is there
Why is restoration not occurring?
Background (cont.)
Costs are high and unlikely to be covered by public funds entirely
Financial incentive required
Use of carbon sequestration by establishing carbon sinks
Can Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) fund the repair of wetlands?
Carbon Farming Initiative
It includes: A carbon crediting mechanism
(“scheme”)
Funding for developing methodologies
Information and tools to help landholders and farmers
An initiative of the Australian Government, currently before Parliament
Carbon Farming Initiative
Targets following activities:
Reforestation and sustainable forest management projects
Avoided deforestation Agriculture projects, i.e.
Soil carbon managementManure managementMethane emission reduction from livestock
Savannah fire management Emissions reduction from legacy landfill waste
Can the CFI fund the repair of wetlands?
A scoping study on the Swan Coastal Plain
Important questionsHow much land is available?Is rehabilitation possible?How much carbon could be sequestered?Is it economical? Other issues?
Can the CFI fund the repair of wetlands?
A scoping study on the Swan Coastal Plain
Methods Literature review
• - The nature of wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain• - Wetland restoration techniques• - Carbon sinks and carbon farming schemes• - Data available to provide estimates of carbon sinks
GIS analysis of available datasets to define suitable wetland areas
Wetland type, tenure, landuse, DEM, hydrology, soil type, cadastre, vegetation, aerial photos, rainfall data etc
Prediction of carbon sequestration potential
Can the CFI fund the repair of wetlands?
A scoping study on the Swan Coastal Plain
Important questionsHow much land is available?Is restoration possible?How much carbon could be sequestered?Is it economical? Other issues?
Swan Coastal Plain
LocationSouth-west of WA
Size ~550km long
~6 to 35km wide
Area ~1.52 Mha
Swan Coastal Plain
Sediment 2.5 M years old
Characteristic dune system
Wetlands cover ~362,000ha,~25% of
SCP shallow, changing in depth
and shape vulnerable to disturbances
(From Balla, 1994)
Wetlands Study area
3 Sub-catchmentsSerpentineMurrayHarvey
Wetland type
Area (Ha)
Creek 14.01
River 33.88
Lake 37.58
Dampland 6.755.43
Sumpland 4,670.88
Paluslope 48.49
Sum 11,560.18
Can the CFI fund the repair of wetlands?
A scoping study on the Swan Coastal Plain
Important questionsHow much land is available?Is restoration possible?How much carbon could be sequestered?Is it economical? Other issues?
Restoration
Definition Ecological Restoration (SER, 2004)“...the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed.”
Ecological restoration has seen massive development over the last decades
Improvement in understanding of ecosystems occurring
Important to considerSetting goals and success criteriaSpecifying objectives and strategiesMonitor key variables
Can the CFI fund the repair of wetlands?
A scoping study on the Swan Coastal Plain
Important questionsHow much land is available?Is restoration possible?How much carbon could be sequestered?Is it economical? Other issues?
How much carbon?
Wood production is correlated to soil type and climate as particular species have specific requirements
Lack of data regarding growth rates and carbon sequestration rates of species for revegetation of wetlands
So far such rates are only available for commercial forestry species i.e. Pinus pinaster or E. globulus
Can the CFI fund the repair of wetlands?
A scoping study on the Swan Coastal Plain
Important questionsHow much land is available?Is restoration possible?How much carbon could be sequestered?Is it economical? Other issues?
Is it economical?
Previous studies show mixed results
Flugge & Abadi (2006). Low & medium rainfall regions in WA
• Need carbon price of $66/t CO2–e (low) or $45/t CO2–e (high)
Harper et al. (2007). Cleared farmland in WA
• Carbon offset viable at $15/t CO2–e
Harris-Adams & Kingwell (2009). Agricultural region in WA
• Carbon offset viable at $20/t CO2–e
Donaghy et al. (2010). Agroforestry in semi-arid QLD
• From $10/t CO2–e onwards it becomes financially viable for landholders
Is it economical? (Cont.)
Lack of growth and sequestration data makes it difficult to predict for wetlands
Depends on establishment and maintenance expenses of projects
Previous studies show mixed results for different scenarios
Further, additional benefits like biodiversity are not accounted for at the moment but that could change in the future
Can the CFI fund the repair of wetlands?
A scoping study on the Swan Coastal Plain
Important questionsHow much land is available?Is restoration possible?How much carbon could be sequestered?Is it economical? Other issues?
Other issues
Technical barriers regarding carbon forestry
Uncertainties about carbon pricing
Conflict with food production
Support by Government
Research funding
Summary
Wetland degradation is a problem
Carbon sequestration activities beneficial
Financial incentive required
Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) could be a promising starting point
This study aims to assess CFI’s potential for wetland restoration
Further research required
Acknowledgements
• Peel Harvey Catchment Council
• South West Catchment Council (SWCC)
• Bernie Masters
• Stan Sochacki
• Halina Kobryn