BHP is providing philanthropic funding to Victoria’s Deakin University Blue Carbon Lab to help drive research on nature-based solutions to climate change.
The funding will go toward two research projects lead by Deakin University’s agricultural sector.
The projects involve establishing scalable, replicable and cost-effective ways to maximise the potential of coastal and inland wetlands and their carbon ecosystems to manage climate change.
“We see great value in using nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change,” BHP climate and sustainability officer Dr Fiona Wild said. “In addition to the climate benefits, they also provide benefits to biodiversity and communities.
“BHP is pleased to support the work of Deakin University’s Blue Carbon Lab in developing cost-effective ways to restore and protect coastal and inland wetlands.”
The first project is lead by environmental research scientist and fellow Dr Melissa Wartman. It will focus on upscaling cost-effective wetland restoration through excluding non-native hard-hooved animals from the ecosystem.
The second project is lead by environmental scientist, ecologist and evolutionary biologist Dt Martino Malerba. Malerba’s project aims to improve the management of farm dams by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving water quality and promoting local biodiversity.
Malerba’s project will monitor farm dams across the country while engaging with farmers through science workshops and testing innovative nature-based solutions like floating wetlands to increase the environmental values.