Environmental Benefits of Planting Trees

The tree plantings being established by CO2 Australia deliver a range of environmental benefits. First amongst these is the large amount of carbon dioxide that is sequestered within the growing forest. Globally, it has been estimated by the International Panel on Climate Change that the world’s forests lock up a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. Alarmingly, the removal of forests has played a major role in increasing greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere, accounting for as much as 20% of the world's total emissions profile within the last five years (Stern Report).

In addition to removing greenhouse gas from the atmosphere, CO2 Australia’s tree plantings deliver a range of environmental co-benefits. Marginal farmland with a long history of being managed under a cleared agricultural regime is targeted for establishment of tree plantings. Due to the historic over-clearing of native vegetation, these landscapes are subject to a number of degrading processes which can be alleviated, or even reversed, through tree planting. The establishment of CO2 Australia’s forest carbon sinks is helping to:

• improve soil structure;
• reduce the risk of soil erosion and the loss of valuable topsoil;
• reduce nitrification, sedimentation and degradation of waterways;
• reduce the risk of salinisation of land and waterways; and
• increase biodiversity at both the local and regional scales.

Another major benefit associated with establishing tree plantings into cleared agricultural landscapes is the improvement in habitat and the biodiversity values that they bring. Cleared agricultural landscapes are highly simplified systems that have little structural or floral diversity. Establishing tree plantings increases the range of habitat available to wildlife, increases the structural and micro-climatic complexity within the landscape and provides valuable food and nesting sites for many species. Read the research carried out by Future Farm Industries CRC and CSIRO on Fact Sheet 1 and Fact Sheet 2.

Contact CO2 Australia on 03 9928 5111 or via email for a confidential discussion about managing your carbon risk.