Dr Jiang’s project testing the feasibility of using powdered basalt to boost wood production in plantations saw him receive an Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) Science and Innovation Award.
Previous research indicates that adding basalt to agricultural land can increase soil fertility and enhance wood production however, there has not yet been sufficient evidence to make similar claims for plantation forests.
If the project is successful, powdered basalt could be applied to Australian plantations to maximise productivity and even, potentially, to mitigate climate change.
“The benefit of this approach is that it can be co-deployed with existing land use. It can potentially increase carbon sequestration, as well as provide extra carbon to offset emissions,” said Dr Jiang.
“Forest-based carbon credits are very exciting in how they co-benefit the industry and the global efforts to mitigate climate change.”
FWPA is proud to sponsor the award each year. FWPA Forest Research Manager Jodie Mason introduced Dr Jiang at the 2022 ABARES Outlook Conference Awards Showcase.
“The team at FWPA congratulates environmental scientist Dr Mingkai Jiang.
“FWPA is eager to see the results of this project. We believe it has the potential to make a positive impact on our industry thanks to its objective of optimising forest management and the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by plantation forests,” said Jodie Mason.
