Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes

Abstract

Remnant woodland areas are commonly part of livestock grazing operations in temperate Australia. These remnant areas can store substantial amounts of carbon and have important biodiversity value, but are at risk of ongoing decline due to nutrient enrichment, overgrazing, clearing of woody debris and lack of tree recruitment. The process of compiling experimental farm-scale natural capital accounts (NCA) for 11 wool-growing businesses in temperate Australia demonstrated that some wool growers may be managing these areas in ways that sustained, and at times regenerated, carbon and other natural values. When managed sensitively, these largely native areas provide forage and shelter for livestock production while carbon and associated biodiversity is also protected, and in some cases regenerated. The farm-scale NCA process highlighted that for some farm businesses net sequestration of carbon can occur at a farm-scale, substantially owing to the management approach applied to these remnant areas. The process highlighted the potential for livestock grazing approaches underpinned by the ecosystem services provided by native grasses, forbs and woodlands (i.e. low-input rather than nutrient enrichment and pasture modification) to contribute to balancing carbon emissions from other areas of more intensive management within a farm business. With the current momentum worldwide aimed at achieving net zero emissions, there is an opportunity that has not existed previously to conserve, and sometimes regenerate, these remnant woodland areas on farmland. This could contribute to reversing a crisis of biodiversity loss in this threatened ecosystem while also helping farm businesses to reduce overall carbon emissions.