Camel culling and carbon emissions in rangelands in central Australia

Abstract

Culling feral camels will impact on the carbon emissions from them. Culling of feral camels stops their long-term continuous methane emission, but emits carbon from their carcasses in the short term. Through on-site monitoring of the decomposition process of camels that have been shot dead, this paper models the pattern of carbon emissions during the decomposition of these camels in Central Australia, and analyses the contribution of the camel culling programme to carbon emission mitigation on the rangelands. A ‘carbon royalty’ payment mechanism is also suggested to encourage local participation in carbon markets through an involvement in natural resource management.

Keywords:

• carbon emissions
• carbon royalty
• Indigenous people
• feral camels
• participatory mechanism

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a project ‘Engaging Aborigines to monitor feral camels’ impacts on carbon emission’ funded by the EnvironmeNT Grants Program. The author wishes to thank Ashley and Lyndee Severin, owners and managers of The Curtin Springs Cattle Station, for their kind cooperation and support during the on-site monitoring. The author also thanks Dr. Stephen Hamilton, Prof. Rolf Gerritsen and anonymous referees for valuable comments on the earlier version of this paper.