In a groundbreaking study, researchers have discovered that the carbon-storing capacity of Mozambican woodlands may be significantly underestimated, potentially reshaping our understanding of their role in combating climate change.
An international team of scientists, led by carbon data provider Sylvera and including researchers from several prestigious institutions, conducted an extensive survey of Miombo woodlands in Mozambique. Their findings suggest that these ecosystems could store up to 2.2 times more carbon than previously calculated.
The research team employed cutting-edge 3D laser scanning technology to measure an estimated 8 million trees across 500 square kilometers of woodland – an area eight times the size of Manhattan. This innovative approach allowed for more accurate biomass estimates compared to traditional methods.
"Using these 3D laser scanning measurements, we're able to significantly improve the accuracy of our estimates of the biomass and carbon stored in these critical and dynamic miombo woodlands," said Professor Mat Disney of University College London, a co-author of the study. "The fact that these new results are so much greater than previous estimates demonstrates that these ecosystems are even more important than we thought and highlights why we need to protect them, now more than ever."
If applied across all of Africa's Miombo woodlands, the study's results suggest that conventional measurement techniques may be underestimating their carbon stocks by an amount nearly equivalent to the total atmospheric increase in a single year.
This revelation has significant implications for climate change strategies, suggesting that protecting and restoring these woodlands could play a much larger role in carbon sequestration efforts than previously recognized.
The unprecedented accuracy of the 3D measurements collected in this study could help increase investor confidence in carbon credit projects and nature-based climate solutions.
Allister Furey, CEO and Co-founder of Sylvera, emphasized the financial aspect of climate action, saying, "We need more money flowing to the known solutions, predominantly our natural carbon sinks. Yet, many investors simply don’t understand these types of investments, or are put off by lack of certain measurements and so avoid them. To help increase investor confidence, Sylvera has pioneered a new way to measure carbon stored in nature and scaling those measurements with machine learning models so that we can know the true impact of restoring it and the harmful effects of damaging it. Our team’s findings across miombo woodlands is a true testament to the power of how technology can help us better understand nature to expedite investment and make real net zero progress, because we’re simply running out of time.”
Researchers are now working to incorporate these findings into broader climate models. Laura Duncanson, an associate professor at the University of Maryland and member of the NASA GEDI science team, noted that they are integrating this data into NASA biomass products, which could lead to improved estimates over Miombo woodlands in Mozambique and beyond.
As the world races to address climate change, this study underscores the critical importance of accurately measuring and valuing natural ecosystems and highlights the potential for technological innovation to enhance our understanding of the natural world and its role in climate regulation.
