Research
The Water and Carbon Group are actively involved in a range of research and development programs that ensure our biosequestration activities and technical capability are informed by the latest science. We establish complex biosequestration systems which are specifically designed to suit conditions at each site. Therefore, we need to have a very strong understanding of the plants, sites and the ecosystems we create. Through this understanding we maximise the biodiversity, carbon and water quality outcomes of our projects.
WCG has a strong commitment to research and our team have a longstanding and on-going participation in research projects both nationally and internationally. With over 10 years of research in mixed species plantings in Australia and abroad the WCG team has a unique understanding of what it takes to undertake successful replanting programs. WCG have a specialist understanding of subtropical and tropical rainforest systems through ongoing research projects and collaborations with Southern Cross University in the Pacific and Asia.
The carbon sequestration projects that we are involved with pose a range of interesting technical questions. To help us answer questions on design and management of these complex systems we have identified a number of key areas of research and development:
- Measurement of carbon sequestration in the forest and wetland vegetation (above ground).
- The influence of revegetation on improving water quality in streams, rivers and estuaries.
- Developing computer models to estimate carbon sequestration yields and catchment processes.
- The measurement and management of soil carbon.
- Creation and management of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- Environmental economics and valuation of environmental services
- Restoring forest nutrient cycling processes.
- Renewable bioenergy and biofuel production.
- Forest effluent reuse systems
The importance of data collection
The Carbon Management Team has been working on research programs that are important for a range of national research agencies. By collecting data on the characteristics of plantation systems WCG are actively building a range of databases from mixed species rainforest restoration plantings to industrial hardwood plantations. The Carbon Pollution reduction Scheme (CPRS) will rely on data and models (National Carbon Accounting Scheme- NCAS) which require up to date data to model the growth of a range of planted forests. The WCG Carbon team have had discussions with the NCAS team about improving the data that informs the CPRS modelling outputs. The WCG data collection program will help to improve the modelling outputs and increase the accuracy of predictions that feed into the carbon accounting models.