One solution to the increasing amount of carbon in our atmosphere starts in the Estuary
|
|
What is Blue Carbon?
Carbon stored in the vegetation and soil in estuaries is known as blue carbon. Through photosynthesis estuary vegetation fixates atmospheric carbon. Sedimentation in estuaries deposited from in-flowing rivers buries estuary vegetation and the benthic organisms that also inhabit this space. Captured organic matter breaks down through an anaerobic decomposition process, and carbon emitted from this decomposition process is captured in estuary soil.
If left undisturbed, captured carbon will be pushed down through dense soil and sediment layers and eventually transform back into fossil fuels deep within the earth’s lithosphere. When estuary soil is disturbed, the soil's ability to sequester new atmospheric carbon becomes limited, and stored carbon will be oxidized and emitted into the atmosphere for years following disturbance.
If left undisturbed, captured carbon will be pushed down through dense soil and sediment layers and eventually transform back into fossil fuels deep within the earth’s lithosphere. When estuary soil is disturbed, the soil's ability to sequester new atmospheric carbon becomes limited, and stored carbon will be oxidized and emitted into the atmosphere for years following disturbance.
Why is Blue Carbon important?
Estuaries can store more atmospheric carbon per unit area for a longer period of time then mature tropical rainforests, yet these hotspots of biodiversity are being in-filled, transformed from soft to hardened shorelines and developed at a rate unmatched to any other ecosystem worldwide. Through the conservation and restoration of estuary ecosystems there is great opportunity to foster greenhouse gas sinks needed to mitigate global climate change, while continued development of estuary ecosystems is proving to be a significant source of greenhouse gas, further driving global climate change.
What is the Blue Carbon Project?
|
Estuary habitat in Squamish, British Columbia has been impacted over the past century through infilling, development and urban expansion, and holds opportunity for restoration, and conservation from further development. The Squamish River Watershed Society (SRWS) has been leading estuary restoration projects in the area since 1998. Through the Blue Carbon Project, the SRWS will identify estuary habitat restoration and conservation opportunities in Squamish and establish a blue carbon monitoring plan to support the development of blue carbon off-set protocol in British Columbia.
Habitat, land use plans, and relevant carbon policies guide the Blue Carbon Project. In Phase 1 of the Blue Carbon Project, the SRWS developed policy, research, academic, land owner, community, and funding partnerships, continually adding and updating it. A collaborative action plan was developed to direct Phase 2 field work, which includes photo-point monitoring, vegetation surveys, and collecting soil samples and analyses. Funding for Phase 1 has been provided by the North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action (NAPECA) grant. NAPECA grants are a program of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The SRWS has partnered with Project Watershed, a stewardship group also undertaking a blue carbon pilot project in Courtney-Comox K’omoks Estuary. The Blue Carbon Project was also recognized by Federal Environment Minister the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq for playing an essential role in Canada's environmental agenda.
Contact us to learn more.
|
blue carbon letter from env... by on Scribd |