The Role of Planted Forests in Offsetting Methane Emissions

For two years, the team at Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao has been researching how soils absorb methane in three planted forests: Orton Bradley Park and McLeans Island in Canterbury and Kaingaroa in Bay of Plenty. The goal of this study, supported by Lincoln University and funded by the Ministry for Primary Industries, was to help the agriculture sector in its continued efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

With Abodo sourcing Radiata pine from Kaingaroa region, we were eager to see and share their results.

The Methane Challenge and Opportunity

A potent greenhouse gas, methane (CH₄) causes roughly 30% of global warming, and over a 100-year period, has a warming effect 27-30 times stronger than carbon dioxide (CO₂). It has a strong warming influence, but also has a relatively short atmospheric lifetime. This means that, by reducing methane emissions, we can seize an immediate opportunity to slow climate change and provide significant environmental benefits within decades.

Monitoring showed that 2.5-2.8kg of CH₄ was absorbed per hectare each year, with up to 15g being absorbed per hectare every day. “Considering New Zealand has 1.8 million hectares of planted forests, that’s a significant amount of methane being removed by forests each year,” says Dr Kathryn Walker, Lead Researcher. Zooming out, she says this level of methane uptake could offset nearly all of the CO2 emissions from liquid fuels used in New Zealand railways in 2022, or about 80% of CH₄ emissions from natural gas production.

Kathryn and her team are now pressing ahead with additional research, funded by the Strategic Science Investment Fund (SSIF), to explore how methane uptake can be increased through the addition of nutrients or the targeted management of tree litter.

One More Piece of the Sustainability Puzzle

At Abodo, we are committed to building the future of timber responsibly, together. Through innovation and sustainable growing practices, we are delivering feature timbers in decades, rather than cutting down centuries of history. And we’re working hard to ensure that environmental best practice is woven into every step of our value chain.

Studies like this one help us to better understand the true potential of rapidly renewable Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified timbers in building the future of New Zealand and protecting our planet for future generations.