Impact 3.2
Small scale ecology (John Hunt).
Land use options, asset management and other methods that increase carbon storage and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions are understood for environmental, economic and social benefits.
Our ongoing research has focused on improving understanding of soil carbon and nitrogen in relation to land management, and the role that soil microbial and fungal communities play in emissions and mitigation. We recalibrated the economic model CLiMAT-DGE baseline to align with government economic growth and projected greenhouse gas emissions, which enabled us to model potential climate policy scenarios to support New Zealand during international climate negotiations. We also started a new trial to investigate the potential of biochar and methanotrophic (‘methane-eating’) soil bacteria to mitigate methane emissions from housed dairy cows.
We worked with MPI, MfE, primary sector groups (DairyNZ, Fonterra, Synlait, Beef+Lamb NZ, and the pig and poultry sectors) and the fertiliser industry.
Key performance indicator 3.2: Validated methodologies and land-use practices to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage and adapt to likely climate change effects.
Core-funded progress for 2014/15 is reported in the achievements table, particularly under: