Economic Returns From Environmental Problems - BreedingSalt and Stress Tolerant Eucalypts for Carbon Sequestration,Salinity Abatement and Commercial Forestry

摘要

Carbon sequestration in planted forests provides an immediatelyrnavailable, low cost option to address the greenhouse impacts of coalrnmining and coal utilisation in a carbon constrained world. In addition,rnplanted forests also offer the opportunity to address other environmentalrnissues, particularly salinity and loss of biodiversity.rnGiven salinity is characteristically associated with agriculture in thern500 to 700 mm rainfall belt, then where such forests can also producerncommercial timber products, they offer the additional opportunity tornestablish new, diversified rural employment in both timber growing andrnprocessing.rnIn the majority of Australian catchments affected by salinity, wherernrainfall is generally less than the 700 mm limit to conventional forestry,rnand where groundwater reserves are often saline, the objective ofrnachieving economically viable forestry production presents a significantrnchallenge.rnIn 1996, Saltgrow commenced a collaborative breeding program torncombine the salt and stress tolerance of E camaldulensis, with the growthrnrate, stem form and wood properties of the commercial species, E grandisrnand E globulus. This program aimed to produce trees with the potentialrnfor commercial rehabilitation of saline landscapes. Results covering arnrange of site conditions from Saltgrow’s network of over 100 trialsrnaround Australia are presented. The opportunity for commercialrnplantations integrated with agriculture in low to medium rainfall areas tornaddress salinity and sustainability will be discussed. In addition, thernsignificant potential for partnerships between land-rich, cash-poorrnfarmers, catchment management authorities seeking to invest in publicrngood projects that enhance environmental sustainability, and majorrncarbon producing industries with either mandated or voluntaryrnrequirements to curtail net emissions will also be discussed.