NESP MaC Project 1.15 – Coastal wetland restoration for Blue Carbon in northern Australia 2021-2022 (UQ)

Research Project

Researchers: Catherine Lovelock (Principal investigator) ,  Valerie Haggerk (Principal investigator) ,  Lawrey, Eric, Dr. (Point of contact) ,  Wolfe, Kennedy (Dr) (Point of contact) ,  eAtlas Data Manager (Point of contact)
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Brief description This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub small-scale study - "Coastal wetland restoration for Blue Carbon in northern Australia". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. Investment in restoration of coastal wetland ecosystems is increasing due to concerns around habitat loss, water quality, decline in fish catches, coastal inundation and erosion, and climate change. Coastal wetlands, including mangroves, saltmarshes, seagrasses and tidal freshwater forests like Melaleuca have significant capacity to sequester carbon dioxide contributing to blue carbon stocks. They provide habitat for coastal fisheries and a range of biodiversity and are culturally important. This project aims to develop a method, that can be widely used across Australia, to prioritise coastal wetland restoration sites for Blue Carbon projects based on a value-based framework that considers biophysical suitability, balancing of wetland values, condition, regulation and policy adequacy, and economic feasibility. Planned Outputs • Spatial data outputs from the Fitzroy Basin QLD, south-west WA and northern Australia analysis [spatial dataset] • Final technical report with analysed data and a short summary of recommendations for policy makers of key findings [written]

Notes Credit
Team members: Catherine Lovelock (University of Queensland), Valerie Hagger (University of Queensland)

Notes Credit
National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Marine and Coastal Hub

Notes Credit
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE), Australian Government

Notes Credit
In addition to NESP (DAWE) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.

Notes Purpose
This project will identify the opportunities for: i) coastal wetland restoration for blue carbon in three different regions in Australia ii) identify sites for investment based on biophysical suitability, economic feasibility, policy adequacy, and wetland values iii) social feasibility It will identify the factors influencing restoration opportunities and economic feasibility, and the trade-offs in wetland values. It will provide a values-based framework that can be applied to other regions of Australia to identify blue carbon restoration opportunities.

Data time period: 2021-09-01 to 2022-04-29

-23.71789,86 -21.38014,86

-22.549011061071,90

-15.67156,86 -14.78706,86

-15.229307315498,90

-33.64055,86 -32.21935,86

-32.929949056142,90