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Dr Keryn Paul

Senior Principal Research Scientist

https://people.csiro.au/P/K/Keryn-Paul

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Contact details:

GPO BOX 1700
CANBERRA ACT 2601 AUSTRALIA

Biography

Keryn joined CSIRO in 1999, and over the last 22 years become a national science leader in measurement and modelling of carbon under plantations, farm forestry and restoration activities such as complex regeneration or regrowth, and environmental, biodiversity and riparian plantings. She also has expertise in application of models to predict the economic viability of revegetation activities, and associated trade-offs and co-benefits.

Keryn’s research outcomes have led to significant impacts via the revision and development of new methodologies that landowners can now adopt to gain carbon credits from vegetation management, as well as reducing the costs of participation in such schemes - particularly through efficiencies in field survey design and the use of generalised allometric models.

Keryn has led many large projects in the area of terrestrial carbon accounting, with a focus on increasing participation of landowners in re-vegetation programs under Australia’s Emissions Reduction Fund by improving the accuracy of carbon sequestration estimates following: (i) land restoration activities in Australia, including from restoration of degraded lands and riparian zones; (ii) woodland restoration, (iii) establishing environmental and mallee plantings in either block plantings or as shelter belts, (iv) establishing commercial plantations. Although most of these projects have focused on the measurement and modelling of sequestration in biomass carbon, many have also entailed measurement and modelling of sequestration of carbon in soil pools as well. Many of these projects have entailed collaboration between multiple research agencies and collaborators.

Keryn is currently also working with the team in the Australian Government responsible for the development and improvement in the Australian carbon accounting model, FullCAM, particularly in collating new and existing datasets to improve the accuracy of prediction of abatement from: (i) fire management in savanna woodlands and southern forests; (ii) various management options of plantations and farm forestry projects, and (iii) natural regeneration in rangelands and semi-arid woodlands and shrublands.

Academic Qualifications

  • 1995-1998

    Ph.D. (Agricultural Science)
    Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. 'Development of surface soil pH gradients under various management systems'.

  • 1991–1994

    B. Agric. Sc. Hons.
    The University of Melbourne, Victoria.