Virginia swamp re-wetting traps 200,000 tons of carbon a year
Conservationists are restoring 37,000 acres of peatland in North Carolina by re-wetting the soil to prevent wildfires and sequester carbon. This project, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to mitigate climate change impacts and protect local ecosystems.
Why it matters
Restoring peatlands is a critical nature-based solution for carbon sequestration and wildfire prevention in coastal regions.
North Carolina’s coastal peatlands are being restored to protect wetlands, reduce wildfire risks and keep carbon stored in the soil. The work is focused on bringing water back to areas that were once drained and altered for farming, timber harvesting and other uses.Peatlands are wetlands whose soils contain large amounts of partly decayed organic matter. They cover only about 3% of the Earth’s surface but store more than twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests, according to The Nature Conservancy. When peat remains wet, it can hold carbon in the soil. But when it dries, it becomes highly flammable and can release large amounts of carbon dioxide when it burns.This makes water management a key part of conservation in coastal North Carolina.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in