That’s the equivalent of the emissions of 1.1 million cars.
Research led by the University of Queensland and the University of Canterbury shows feral pigs are uprooting 36,000 to 124,000 square kilometres of soil in environments where they’re not native — roughly the size of Tasmania.
UQ scientist Christopher O’Bryan said feral pigs could be releasing enough carbon to accelerate climate change.
“Wild pigs are just like tractors ploughing through fields,” Dr O’Bryan said.
“When soils are disturbed from humans ploughing a field or, in this case, from wild animals uprooting, carbon is released into the atmosphere.”
The first 30 cm of soil contains about 680 billion tonnes of carbon — almost double the amount present in the atmosphere.
PhD candidate Nicholas Patton said the research would have ramifications for how feral pests were factored into future climate change plans.
“If invasive pigs are allowed to expand into areas with abundant soil carbon, there may be an ever greater risk of greenhouse gas emission in the future,” Mr Patton said.
Days after the scientists’ announcement, Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud announced $880,000 of funding for two projects to improve the management of feral pigs and other pest animals and weeds in Victoria, as part of the $30.3 million Established Pest Animals and Weeds Management Pipeline Program.
“The feral pig project will see a statewide feral pig co-ordinator employed who will be responsible for facilitating the development of a Victorian feral pig distribution database and best practice management training for land managers in areas most affected or threatened by feral pigs,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The second project will support the appointment of an Indigenous facilitator to work with traditional owner groups to co-design a guide for managing established invasive species in culturally-sensitive areas.”
The Victorian Government is providing more than $500,000 in co-contributions to the two projects.
“This funding will help our farmers safeguard against established pest animals and weeds which not only reduce agricultural productivity, but cause damage to the environment and impact sites of significance to traditional owners,” Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.
“Feral pigs are a pest that are increasingly affecting Victorian farmers, industry and communities. The feral pig co-ordinator will reduce the impact of feral pigs at a landscape scale.
“We understand rabbit and weed control programs can be challenging to roll out in culturally-significant areas which can deter land managers from participating in landscape-scale control programs. The Indigenous facilitator is an important role that will assist Victorians to navigate solutions to better manage these pests, whilst also preserving these important areas.”
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