Identifying cost-effective reforestation approaches for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in the Australian tropics

Abstract

There is great potential for rainforest reforestation to help with biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. This project aims to determine the reforestation approach that maximises native biodiversity, while profiting from the carbon market. We use a replicated experimental design to track the biodiversity, carbon value and costs associated with eight different approaches of reforestation of cattle pasture into secondary rainforest. We are monitoring several key taxa (plants, butterflies, dung beetles, bees and ants) and carbon pools, prior to reforestation and throughout the regeneration process. The fieldwork is conducted in North Queensland, Australia