Enhanced carbon storage

Forests absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, storing carbon in their living biomass (stems, branches, bark, leaves, roots), dead biomass (dead standing trees, coarse woody debris, litter, harvested wood products) and in the forest soil.

Opportunities to enhance carbon storage include increasing the area of forest and rate of forest growth, increasing the amount of long-lived wood products, increasing the amount of carbon stored in forest soil, and reducing loss of carbon from existing forests.

Priority RFA information

Contemporary information on the science of carbon storage and forests, the contribution of NSW forests to the global carbon cycle, and opportunities to enhance carbon storage in forests.

Sustainability Indicators

Inform measures and reporting on performance in relation to the following sustainability Indicators:

Criterion 5: Criterion 5: Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles

• 5.1a Contribution of forest ecosystems and forest industries to the global greenhouse gas balance

Evaluation questions for all RFA regions

1. What opportunities exist to enhance carbon storage in or from forests?

Monitoring activities

1. Carbon balance of NSW forests cross tenure
   The Mullion Group, CSIRO, NSW Department of Primary Industries
   Completion by May 2021
   More details here

Research

1. Abatement opportunities from the agricultural sector in NSW
   Modelling to support the development of the Primary Industries Productivity and Abatement Program
   More details here


2. Project 3: Biomass for Bioenergy under the NSW Climate Change Research Strategy
   NSW Department of Primary Industries
   More details here

See research priorities.