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The study by the Autralian Wildlife Services showed that an increase in the kangaroo population to 175 million with a 30 percent reduction in total cattle and sheep populations by 2020 would lower Australia's annual greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent, or 16 megatons.

Livestock produce large amounts of the greenhouse gas methane. Sheep and cattle constitute 11 percent of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions. Kangaroos, however, produce relatively little methane because they are not ruminants (2 stomach animals that chew the cud).

Dr George Wilson, lead researcher, said:
"Increasing kangaroo numbers to produce the same amount of meat as cattle by 2020 would provide substantial conservation benefits.

"Methane has a warming potential over a 100-year time frame 21 times higher than that of CO2 and is a principal contributor to global warming. With a shorter lifetime in the atmosphere of 8-12 years compared to 100 years for CO2, reducing methane emissions is an attractive short-term target.

"Currently, farmers have few options to reduce the contribution that livestock make to greenhouse gas production. However, low-emission kangaroo meat will provide an option to avoid emissions permit fees and have a positive global impact.

"Although we are proposing an increase in kangaroo numbers, from the current about 30 million and growth in the kangaroo harvesting industry, the net planned effect is for a lower grazing impact. This means there will be less damage from hard-hoofed livestock and maintenance of kangaroo and other wildlife habitat."

Trials are underway to test collaboration between farmers in the sustainable management of free-ranging species. According to Dr Wilson "when landholders value a wildlife species populations increase and the conservation status of the species becomes more secure. This has been the case for similar iconic species such as springbok in South Africa, red deer in Scotland, and bison in USA."