Carbon Offset Projects: Peatland the King of Carbon Storage?
In general terms, carbon offset projects are nature-based solutions which have a whole host of benefits. These projects are becoming more and more popular due to their cost-effectiveness and their positive impact on the environment. Minnesota’s economy, public health, and biodiversity could greatly profit from carbon offset projects. Fortunately, Minnesota seems to be a prime spot for one project in particular to take place, the restoration of peatlands.
Why Peatlands?
Despite only occupying 3% of the global land area, it is estimated peatlands contain 30% of global soil carbon (Krause et al. 2021). Meaning, peatlands are our largest carbon sinks on land when healthy. Unfortunately, many of them have been drained and ditched negating the benefits of a healthy peatland ecosystem. These degraded peatlands are estimated to release 80.8 gigatons of carbon globally (Leifeld and Menichetti, 2018). To understand the sheer mass of a gigaton, MPI encourages you to glance at this website. If these drained peatlands were to be restored as a carbon offset project, they would have massive potential to sequester atmospheric carbon and help mitigate climate change.
Why Minnesota Peatlands?
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the state has over 6 million acres of peatlands (n.d.). That is more area of peatlands than any other state in the country besides Alaska. Some of these peatlands were historically drained and/or ditched for various uses. Finding, restoring, and monitoring these peatlands could have enormous positive impacts on the state’s biodiversity, climate, and community, including:
Sequestration of atmospheric carbon
Improved biodiversity
Re-establish native plant communities and wildlife habitat
Decrease invasive species
Improve water quality
Economic opportunities for surrounding communities
Jobs created for restoration and monitoring
Doing carbon offset projects on Minnesota’s peatlands could be a key player in the state's plan to mitigate and adapt to climate change. With numerous positive impacts covering many sectors, peatland restoration could be the future of restorative carbon offset projects in Minnesota.
Mitigation Partners Inc. (MPI) is on the cutting edge of peatland restoration in Northern Minnesota. MPI strives to induce a healthier change in our community. If you would like to be a part of, or learn more about, that change please contact us.
Mitigation Partners, Inc. Founders Dax Dickson & Tory Christensen
Sources:
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snas/peatlands.html
https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/about-peatlands/peatland-benefits
Leifeld J, Menichetti L. (2018). The underappreciated potential of peatlands in global climate change mitigation strategies. Nat Commun, 9(1), 1071. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03406-6. PMID: 29540695; PMCID: PMC5851997.
Liam Krause, Kevin J. McCullough, Evan S. Kane, Randall K. Kolka, Rodney A. Chimner, Erik A. Lilleskov. (2021). Impacts of historical ditching on peat volume and carbon in northern Minnesota USA peatlands. Journal of Environmental Management, 296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113090.
