P.PSH.1239 - Maximising co-benefits of trees on farm

Summary

This research aims to quantify the productivity and carbon sequestration benefits of integrating trees into livestock systems in southeast Australia, assist graziers in incorporating this and other information into planting decisions and ease the implementation process. These aims address current research gaps and challenges identified by producers that increase uncertainty and discourage graziers from planting trees.

Objectives

1. Design and implement a survey and farmer interviews to assess the effects of trees on livestock production in south-eastern Australia.
2. Incorporate survey results into a database developed under Phase 1 project: Trees on Farms: a tool for decision making.
3. Assess the costs and benefits associated with different tree planting designs in the range of livestock production systems and environments in south-eastern Australia.
4. Develop improved models to determine tree planting designs to optimise benefits for different production systems and environments.
5. Communicate the results of the project on costs and potential benefits of tree planting, and appropriate planting designs to farmers and advisors.

Key findings

Planting trees on 5–12% of the high-productivity case study farms was estimated to reduce total emissions from farm by 29% to 50% over the 30 year analysis period. Producers can tailor tree planting configurations based on their specific goals to achieve multiple objectives. The return on investment in tree planting varies depending on factors such as exposure to cold conditions, the impact of shelter on conditions experienced by animals, the quality of the pasture replaced by trees, and the value of carbon associated auditing costs.

Benefits to industry

The case study results provide a better understanding of the benefits and risks associated with integrating trees into farm enterprises.

Future research

Better quantification of the ability of trees to mitigate reductions in weight gain due to hot or cold temperatures, particularly in cattle, would reduce uncertainty in the value of trees as well as inform management to maintain productivity and improve animal welfare in a changing climate. Several recognised co-benefits were not included in this analysis due to a lack of available data, including availability of scientifically sound metrics that can be used on farm.

These issues need to be addressed to get a more comprehensive understanding of the value of trees to the farm enterprise, address other biodiversity and other environmental goals, and to support the development of inclusion of such factors into whole-farm modelling.