Lower rainfall regions of South Australia are subject to many natural resource management challenges following the broadscale clearing of native vegetation and the development of cereal and livestock industries in the region. Perennial woody revegetation and production systems can be used to develop more resilient and sustainable primary production systems and carbon sequestration opportunities in highly variable landscapes with evolving climatic conditions. Revegetating landscapes with perennial plants can provide commercial opportunities and assist in the restoration of ecosystem services, including hydrological balances that influence salinity and habitat creation for biodiversity conservation. The integration of sustainable woody crop systems (including extractive use, habitat restoration & carbon markets) with other agricultural production (eg. grazing and cropping) can provide more stable landholder returns and encourage the persistence and prosperity of local human communities while enhancing the natural ecology of these regions.
In this paper we evaluate the opportunities for carbon sequestration from sustainable woody crops and environmental revegetation plantings in the lower rainfall (250-650mm) dryland agriculture regions of South Australia. Many of the factors that influence the opportunity for commercial and environmental revegetation are spatially variable. Through the exploration of spatial data on primary productivity, farm economics, natural resource management drivers and landuses at a range of scales (from state and regions to within-paddocks) we can evaluate and prioritise revegetation activities. An understanding of the nature and spatial extent of opportunities for carbon sequestration from revegetation will underpin future policies, adoption strategies and carbon markets in South Australia