Paul Carnell collecting samples from Reedy Swamp in October.

The Deakin University team has been active in w etlands across northern Victoria.

Water Talk, December, 2015 PAGE 9

water talk

PhD candidate Saras Windecker, a vegetation assessor from the University of Wetlands like the Reedy Swamp may be capable of s toring large amounts of Melbourne, was part of the team sampling wetlands. carbon.

Wetlands may be carbon kings he carbon storage potent ial of V ictor ias in land wet lands

is be ing measured for the f irst t ime as part of a pro ject co -ordinated by Gou lburn Broken Catchment Management Author ity.

Goulburn Broken CMA project manager Kate Brunt said thanks to Victorian Government funding, Deakin University scientists were visiting 100 wetlands across Victoria over the next six months to identify carbon sink hot spots.

"Dr Paul Carnell and the team from Deakin University recently took samples from wetlands in the Goulburn Broken catchment, including Reedy Swamp near Shepparton, Winton Wetlands and the Cathedral Ranges near Taggerty," Ms Brunt said.

"They also went to Doctors Swamp near Murchison and Lake Cooper and will return to Barmah later this year."

Dr Carnell said there was growing evidence that inland freshwater swamps had far greater potential for storing carbon than rainforests.

"International data indicates that carbon sequestration in 1 ha of wetland is equivalent to 40 ha of tropical rainforest," he said.

"We want to determine if wetlands here in Victoria store carbon at similar rates, including some wetlands that have been restored.

"This project aims to build the

knowledge base so we can protect and enhance the amazing capacity of wetlands to store carbon."

The samples from each of the wetlands will be sent off for analysis. This will help identify 10 carbon storage hot spots for further research into the rate at which the carbon is stored.

Ms Brunt said a better under-standing of carbon stocks and storage rates in wetlands had huge potential for prioritising activities that supported communities to deal with climate change.

"By understanding the value of wetlands as carbon sinks, were better placed to assess our carbon footprint, prioritise wetland restoration projects and identify other climate change mitigation opportunities, such as carbon offset projects."

)Follow the project team on Twitter with #VicWetlandCarbon or for more information visit www.deakin.edu.au/life -environmental-sciences/research/ marine-freshwater-aquaculture/ marinebiology-and-ecology/blue-carbon

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