Processes underpinning natural capital account compilation highlight the potential for low-input grazing to mitigate farm carbon emissions while also improving biodiversity outcomes

Remnant woodland areas are commonly part of livestock grazing operations in temperate Australia. These remnant can store substantial amounts carbon and have important biodiversity value, but at risk ongoing decline due to nutrient enrichment, overgrazing, clearing woody debris lack tree recruitment. The process compiling experimental farm-scale natural capital accounts (NCA) for 11 wool-growing businesses Australia demonstrated that some wool growers may be managing these ways sustained, times regenerated, other values. When managed sensitively, largely native provide forage shelter production while associated is also protected, cases regenerated. NCA highlighted farm net sequestration occur a farm-scale, substantially owing the management approach applied areas. potential approaches underpinned by ecosystem services provided grasses, forbs woodlands (i.e. low-input rather than enrichment pasture modification) contribute balancing emissions from more intensive within business. With current momentum worldwide aimed achieving zero emissions, there an opportunity has not existed previously conserve, sometimes regenerate, on farmland. This could reversing crisis loss this threatened helping reduce overall emissions.