Scientists uncover key to boosting carbon capture

Leigh Sullivan, from Southern Cross University, explains the significance of the find.

"This is a really old growth of bamboo here, it's been here at least 50 years according to the aerial photographs," he told The 7.30 Report.

"So it's been here a long time shedding leaves onto the ground and when you actually look at the accumulation of the organic matter what we can see is a really thick spongy layer.

"It is full of organic matter in various states of decay. Now when you dig into the soil layer, you can see we've got fresh leaves on top that are being decomposed into this thick mulch material beneath it."

Amongst the decay are thousands of tiny capsules of carbon known as plant stones, invisible to the naked eye and virtually indestructible.

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