Wetland Carbon Assessments
Wetland ecosystems sequester and store significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere and ocean, and are now recognized for their role in mitigating climate change.
At the Blue Carbon Lab, we can quantify the capacity of coastal (blue carbon) and freshwater (teal carbon) wetlands to sequester carbon through carbon assessments at multiple spatial scales.
Employing both desktop and field-based techniques such as spatial analysis and environmental economics, our in-house expertise can help clients to develop a first pass or feasibility assessment to understand carbon opportunities, outline the benefits of restoring or creating wetland carbon ecosystems, and develop roadmaps to guide future research or projects.
Desktop methods
– Carbon stock assessment
– Habitat mapping
– Spatial modelling
Field-based methods
– Sediment cores for carbon stocks and sequestration rates
– Plant biomass carbon stocks measurements
– Methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide emission measurements
Case Study: QLDBlue
This project was a multi-sector collaboration involving industry, project developers, and academia that explored Queensland’s blue carbon potential.
To accomplish this, we developed an inventory of blue carbon stocks and sequestration rates, analyzed drivers of blue carbon stocks, created heatmaps of stocks, and mapped sites that were suitable for additionality.
These methods allowed us to explore opportunities for additionality under different management scenarios, such as removing tidal barriers and incorporating sea level rise, in the Great Barrier Reef catchments.
Project partners
This project was delivered as part of the Pilot Projects Program of the Land Restoration Fund, supported by the Queensland Government.
Research was led by Deakin University in collaboration with The University of Queensland, James Cook University, CSIRO, HSBC, Qantas, Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, NQ Dry Tropics, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Greencollar.
Case study: Assessing teal carbon opportunities in a rehabilitated wetland
The Blue Carbon Lab was commissioned by Westernport Water and the Intelligent Water Networks to conduct a first-pass assessment to determine the carbon storage opportunities that could be generated by rehabilitating a wetland. Our partners were interested in using recycled water from a wastewater treatment plant to create a freshwater wetland.
Our work demonstrated the potential carbon storage created by such activities. We were also able to provide recommendations for future projects in the area.
Project partners
This project was developed in collaboration with Westernport Water and the Intelligent Water Networks.
