The key research question was ‘How much carbon can natural forests store when undisturbed by intensive human land-use activity?’ This report presents a summary of results from case studies in theeucalypt forests of south-eastern Australia.

Key findings:

Australian natural forests have far larger carbon stocks than is recognized.

The remaining intact natural forests constitute a significant standing stock of carbon that should be protected from carbon emitting land-useactivities.

There is substantial potential for carbon sequestration in forest areas that have been logged if they are allowed to re-grow undisturbed by further intensive human land-use activities.

Of special note is: The highest biomass carbon stocks, with an average of more than 1200 t C ha-1 and maximum of over 2000 t C ha-1, are in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forest in the Central Highlands of Victoria and Tasmania.  Access this report here: http://epress.anu.edu.au/green_carbon/pdf_instructions.html