Afforestation results of Kimberley
 

The Argyle Lake Green Ring environmental project will plant 10 million trees. As a result of afforestation near Lake Argyle, we expect to see the following changes.

• Annual rainfall. An increase in the amount of average annual precipitation. Rainfall in Kimberley is about 500 millimeters per year. Moreover, all precipitation falls in 4 - 5 months - from November to March. After afforestation of a plot of more than 10,000 hectares, we expect an increase in both the amount of precipitation by 100-200 millimeters and an extension of the rainy season by 1-2 months.

• Ground water level. We select several control points at particularly important places and organize regular measurements of the groundwater level there. The first significant rise in the level is expected after the creation of the water landscape. The second uplift should occur after the planted trees have grown and signs of forest appear.

• Air temperature. The forest is able to soften the climate by absorbing the thermal energy of the sun during the day and returning the energy accumulated in the moisture of trees and soil at night. Thus, we should get reductions in hot daytime temperatures by 3-5°C and an increase in nighttime temperatures by 1-2°C.

• Air humidity. The area of ​​the trees cleared is hundreds of times larger than the area of ​​the land on which the shadow of the tree falls. Due to this, the evaporating capacity of trees is so great that it can significantly change the humidity of the air. In addition, the defense mechanisms of trees are designed so that the main evaporation occurs in the morning and evening hours, and in the middle of the day, when there is the most heat, evaporation is reduced. Thus, the forest significantly increases the humidity of the air, taking moisture from the ground and even creates morning fogs.

• Retention of carbon. Each tree is capable of storing about 22 kilograms of carbon on average. One hectare of artificial forest can grow about 2000 trees. Taking into account that trees and shrubs are already growing on the selected site, we only need to compact the natural vegetation with additional species. Therefore, we will grow on average 1000 trees per hectare. That's 22 tons of carbon removed from the atmosphere and stored in wood and soil per year. Forest area under the Green Ring of Lake Argyle project 10,000 hectares. That is, we are helping to retain 220,000 tonnes of carbon per year.