Green Carbon Survey Shows AWD Improves Biodiversity in Philippine Rice Paddies
The survey provides scientific validation that AWD, already recognized for methane reduction, also delivers measurable biodiversity benefits, strengthening the business case for nature-based carbon credits in Southeast Asian rice cultivation.
Reporting from 1 source: ASCII.jp.
Green Carbon Inc. completed a biodiversity survey in Philippine rice paddies comparing AWD (alternate wetting and drying) to continuous flooding. The survey found AWD reduced invasive golden apple snails by 74% while maintaining bird activity, and improved soil microbial health. The results support AWD as a climate-resilient method that improves ecosystem health and pest suppression, strengthening the case for carbon credit creation.
Green Carbon partnered with the UPLB Foundation to conduct the survey across three growth stages in Oriental Mindoro Province, one of the Philippines' leading rice-growing areas. The study compared a 0.5 ha AWD field and a 0.3 ha continuous flooding field, both growing the RC-218 rice variety. On day 15, the AWD field had 71 golden apple snails versus 270 in the continuous flooding field, a 74% reduction. The suppressive effect persisted to day 60. Bird sightings of intermediate egret, little egret, and barn swallow remained unchanged at all survey points, indicating no adverse impact on local bird activity. Soil microbial health also improved under AWD. The National Irrigation Administration oversees irrigation management nationwide and has an extensive field network essential for disseminating AWD on a national scale. This biodiversity survey forms part of the scientific foundation for broader collaboration between Green Carbon and Philippine government agencies to promote AWD.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.