When fawning over the darlings of carbon capture we often think of forests and jungles, such as the Amazon and Sundarbans. However, in line with the aesthetics driven society we live in, we forget about the hardworking scrappy underdog. I’m not afraid to say it, I love peat and bogs.
They do not carry the grandeur of tall trees or the regalness of flowers. Yet, they are of vital importance in the battle against climate change. And hopefully I can make peat bogs your ‘hear me out’ by the end of this feature.
What and How?!
There may be some of you who are unfamiliar with what peat specifically is. Over many many years, mosses and other bog plants partially decompose and layer atop each other, squishing and compressing. The deeper you go, the darker and more decomposed the peat.
The important thing about this process is how the carbon from these plants are completely trapped. In waterlogged conditions, such as bogs, the peat is undisturbed due to its lack of usefulness to humans, keeping the carbon under lock and key. The heavily soggy conditions means shrubs and plants do not fully decompose. So they end up underground along with their carbon content.
Why?!
Peatland only covers 3% of the northern hemispheres landmass but stores 33% of global soil carbon. This efficiency is what has triggered a focus on peat to help tackle climate change. Much of this comes with fixing peatland and bogs that have been damaged by humans.
Work started in 2020 in Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside to recover the 98% of lost lowland raised peat bogs. Sphagnum Mosses are vital to the process. In holding up to 10 times its weight in water, it can help sustain the sodden conditions needed; especially in dry seasons and the slow decomposition process.
Fully restoring the UKs peatland could save £109 billion in terms of reduced carbon emissions. The money that must be spent towards these sustainable endeavours is great, but so are the potential savings. So, even if saving the world isn’t a good enough incentive, saving extra cash can be.
Peat bogs, as a prospective partner, would be strong and patient. Additionally very good in a crisis with the constitution to support a long long life.
The Time Machine
Another very alluring aspect of peatland is the staying power. As peat isn’t a living organism it has no ‘life expectancy’. The oldest peatland, found in Borneo, clocks in at 48,000 years old. In comparison to Trees, there is no time frame for how long a peatland or bog can absorb and store carbon.
In terms of a sustainable long term option for the future, it is second to none. The UK government has committed to restoring 35,000 ha under the £640 million Nature for Climate Fund. But this doesn’t mean the barbs of greed haven’t worked to continue to diminish this important resource.
In Canada, only 10% of peatland is within protected areas. Through legal loopholes, the Canadian government doesn’t have to report peat damaged or lost in deforestation. This allows for a lack of accountability and the continued destruction of this valuable natural asset.
In the same way we protect forest and trees, we must protect peatland. In the UK, more than 94% of Britain’s lowland peat bogs have been destroyed. This leads to 23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide being released a year. From carbon stores to carbon emitters, fixing them is imperative as a starting point.
Hear Me Out
Trees are the pretty boys of the sustainability effort. Oaks are large and grand, horse chestnuts are understated and bamboo is sleek and elegant. But looks ain’t everything.
Peatland and bogs have moist hands and aren’t the prettiest to look at. But beyond that is an ecosystem teeming with life that holds at bay that which would harm the planet.
Be Curious
- If this subject interests you, read Annie Prolux’s fantastic book on the subject.
- Read our piece on the other important wet worlds.
- If you want to learn more about climate capture, give this a read.
