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| Fri, 11th Dec 2020 10:25:00 |
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Nature’s ticking time bomb? |
Ecosystems are the unsung heroes of our planet. Absorbing huge amounts of greenhouse gases, they are one of the most effective tools we have in tackling the climate crisis.
Known as “carbon sinks,” mangroves, peatlands and boreal forests have helped cool the Earth for thousands of years.
By storing billions of tons of CO2 in their soil and vegetation, and locking it away underground, they protect us from the worst effects of global warming.
Now they are under threat from deforestation, agriculture and global warming, with the potential to release catastrophic amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere – putting us on a trajectory for devastating climate change.
Here’s the good news. Managed properly, these extraordinary ecosystems can recover and play a vital role in helping us turn the tide in the fight against climate change. Around the world people are working against the clock to protect and restore them. And they need your help.
Mangroves are small, hardy trees and shrubs that grow in brackish or saline water in coastal regions, where their complex root systems anchor them to withstand the tides. They are one of the best carbon sinks on the planet.
Mangrove soil worldwide holds 4.5 times as much carbon as the US emits every year.
Each acre can store up to twice as much carbon as tropical rainforests, like the Amazon, and three to four times as much as other terrestrial forests.
Mangroves are one of the most threatened ecosystems in the tropical region. Once the trees are destroyed, the carbon stored in the soil is released into the atmosphere as CO2, further adding to climate change.
Mangrove trees grow through photosynthesis, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere with the help of sunlight and water.
When leaves and organic matter fall off the trees, they take their stored carbon with them. This organic matter builds up amongst the mangrove's roots, where the water slows down the rate of decomposition, locking much of the carbon in place.
Eventually this sediment builds up to create a dense soil, which stores the carbon until it is disturbed by extreme weather events (like tsunamis or hurricanes) or human activity.
Mangroves are an amazing buffer against coastal erosion, tidal surges and tsunamis, which are increasing due to global warming.
They provide an estimated $82 billion-worth of storm protection worldwide.
They support incredibly rich biodiversity both above and below the water, including fish, crabs, shellfish and octopuses.
They are also the main source of food and livelihoods for many coastal communities, benefiting hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
Despite their natural value, mangrove forests are being destroyed and degraded across the planet to make way for shrimp farms, agricultural land, coastal developments and charcoal production.
Recent studies show that manmade destruction of mangroves has dropped dramatically in the early 21st century, offering hope for conservationists. But mangroves aren’t out of danger yet – they are at increasing risk from sea-level rise due to climate change, making their preservation more important than ever.
Read original full article
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