Scion researchers will test if pine forest soils are helping reducing NZ’s methane levels

Scion researchers will test if pine forest soils are helping reducing NZ’s methane levels
Scion scientist Kathryn Walker is leading a project to measure the consumption of methane by soil microbes. (Image: Scion)
Greg Hurrell
A new research project is hoping to find out whether New Zealand’s plantation forests can measurably reduce net methane emissions from the microbes in their soils. The research by Scion will find out how much methane is consumed by a class of bacteria known as methanotrophs. The crown research institute, which specialises in forestry and wood-derived research, hopes its work will contribute to a better understanding of NZ’s total emissions budget. Scion scientist and project lead, Kathryn Walker, told BusinessDesk there ha...

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