The Effect of Carbon Credits on Savanna Land Management and Biodiversity Conservation
Author Information
Author(s): Douglass Lucinda L., Possingham Hugh P., Carwardine Josie, Klein Carissa J., Roxburgh Stephen H., Russell-Smith Jeremy, Wilson Kerrie A.
Primary Institution: The Australian Government National Environmental Research Program, The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and The University of Queensland School of Biological Sciences
Hypothesis
Can carbon finance improve land management and conservation planning priorities in northern Australia's tropical savanna?
Conclusion
Improved land management can significantly increase carbon revenue while conserving biodiversity.
Supporting Evidence
- Improved management can potentially raise approximately US$5 per hectare per year in carbon revenue.
- Implementing better fire and grazing management can prevent the release of 1–2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over approximately 90 years.
- The study identified priority locations for protecting species and vegetation communities while managing costs.
Takeaway
This study shows that managing land better can help save plants and animals while also making money from carbon credits.
Methodology
The study used a framework to prioritize land management actions based on biodiversity conservation and potential carbon revenue.
Limitations
The results are based on generalized data and may not apply to all specific sites without further detailed data.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on northern Australia's tropical savanna ecosystems.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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