Maximising carbon in soils research
Find out about the Ministry's research programme to better understand how soils store and release carbon.
Image: Clare Toia-Bailey / www.image-central.co.nz
Carbon can be gained or lost from soil depending how land is used and managed, and on the climate of the area.
The Ministry’s Maximising Carbon in Soils research programme aims to better understand how soils across Aotearoa New Zealand store and release carbon. It covers all soil types apart from peat soils.
The research will expand our measurements and improve our modelling approaches to estimate changes in soil carbon across the country.
This will help New Zealand more accurately report its emissions and removals from soils. Currently, we use averages for broad land-use types when we compile New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory each year, rather than data specific to local soil types and climates.
The research will also contribute to the body of scientific evidence that can be used to inform decisions about managing land. This could help to assess how to manage different soil types to ensure the maximum amount of carbon remains naturally stored.
The research is part of a cross-government research programme known as Maximising Carbon Storage.
This programme explores how New Zealand can maximise the natural storage of carbon in different ways. It was funded through the Climate Emergency Response Fund in 2022.
Other related programmes are:
- Maximising forest carbon [Ministry for Primary Industries website]
- Maximising carbon in native systems [Department of Conservation website].