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Peatlands: Climate Saviors Under Threat
9 Sep
Summary
- Peatlands store one-third of Earth's carbon, more than all forests.
- Drained peatlands emit vast amounts of climate-warming carbon dioxide.
- Restoration aims to reduce emissions and regenerate native habitats.
In North Carolina's Inner Banks, a 23-square-mile peatland is undergoing restoration to mitigate climate change. Decades-old ditches, dug for an abandoned farming venture, have drained this critical area, allowing it to release 130,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Peatlands, though covering only 3% of the globe, hold a third of Earth's carbon. When intact and waterlogged, they trap gases and absorb atmospheric carbon. However, widespread dewatering for agriculture and other uses has degraded two-thirds of temperate peatlands, primarily in Europe and the U.S.
The current restoration project involves blocking ditches to manage water levels, reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Invasive species will be culled, and native plants will be reintroduced. The initiative aims to preserve and restore a million acres of peatland along the Eastern Seaboard over the next decade.
