Event Details | Teams & Players List | Game Report I Supported Climate Project
Passau 2011- Wetland restoration
GUFC Climate Protection Project: Restoring Wetland
Wetland-and Swamp Protection is Climate Protection
Did you know that swamps are gigantic C02 sinks that absorb around 1% of global CO2 emissions and are two times more efficient than forests?! They also serve as hot spots of biodiversity.
Their C02 absorption capacity, specifically those of the younger swamps and wetlands between 10-15.000 years of age, is enormous.
However, we have been using swamps for energy generation setting free tons of carbon emissions just by producing lignite from 50 million year old and black coal from 300 million year old turf.
In their natural form wetland and marsh serve as super sinks able to absorb around 550 giga tons of worldwide carbon emissions. That compares to
75% of all C02 in the atmosphere,
100% of worldwide C02 caused by terrestrial biomass from animals, plants, organisms
200% of absorbed C02 by forests.
Still the worldwide decrease in the number of wetlands and marsh is alarming: more than 66% are dead!
Although wetlands have been nearly untouched by humans for many centuries they have suffered greatly since middle ages. They have been drained and mined for coal and used agricultural and silvicultural purposes. 20% of the global wetland areas, a total of 197 million acres, have been destroyed or badly affected.
Humans turn wetlands into climate killers.
Burning of black coal and drainage to generate turf lead to emission of a a vast number of greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4 as well as N2O.
Drained wetland enables much faster mining than natural wetland and hence. This mining procedure generates around 20% more carbon emissions than intact wetlands can absorb at the same time.
Drained wetland hence causes the same amount of carbon emissions than is produced by the destruction of rainforest by humans. Destruction of woods also speeds up destructions of wetland similar soil.
How do „wetland sinks“ work?
Green plants absorb greenhouse gas CO2 from the air. Using the sun and water they build their biomass. As a plant breathes or as it decays the naturally bound CO2 is set free. In a natural balanced ecosystem such as in a forest carbon emissions are little less than CO2 absorption.
Wetlands, however, accumulate organic material as turf. The turf itself stays in the wet and acidy ground without oxygen and is hence preserved. Average wetland serves therefore as natural CO2 sink that can absorb much more than it produces and is ideal to fight against climate change.
Wetland restrauration
Former wetlands can be wetted again as long as turf has not been mined yet. After the first few years of additional emissions in dioxide the wetland will return to its natural absorption capability and will grow steadily. Restoring and maintaining wetlands is an important contribution to fighting climate change.
The rewetting process does not impair the human use of wetlands and can supply feeding materials for ruminants or generate wood, reed, sedges and other materials for sustainable building.
Passau 2011- Wetland restoration
GUFC Climate Protection Project: Restoring Wetland
Wetland-and Swamp Protection is Climate Protection
Did you know that swamps are gigantic C02 sinks that absorb around 1% of global CO2 emissions and are two times more efficient than forests?! They also serve as hot spots of biodiversity.
Their C02 absorption capacity, specifically those of the younger swamps and wetlands between 10-15.000 years of age, is enormous.
However, we have been using swamps for energy generation setting free tons of carbon emissions just by producing lignite from 50 million year old and black coal from 300 million year old turf.
In their natural form wetland and marsh serve as super sinks able to absorb around 550 giga tons of worldwide carbon emissions. That compares to
75% of all C02 in the atmosphere,
100% of worldwide C02 caused by terrestrial biomass from animals, plants, organisms
200% of absorbed C02 by forests.
Still the worldwide decrease in the number of wetlands and marsh is alarming: more than 66% are dead!
Although wetlands have been nearly untouched by humans for many centuries they have suffered greatly since middle ages. They have been drained and mined for coal and used agricultural and silvicultural purposes. 20% of the global wetland areas, a total of 197 million acres, have been destroyed or badly affected.
Humans turn wetlands into climate killers.
Burning of black coal and drainage to generate turf lead to emission of a a vast number of greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4 as well as N2O.
Drained wetland enables much faster mining than natural wetland and hence. This mining procedure generates around 20% more carbon emissions than intact wetlands can absorb at the same time.
Drained wetland hence causes the same amount of carbon emissions than is produced by the destruction of rainforest by humans. Destruction of woods also speeds up destructions of wetland similar soil.
How do „wetland sinks“ work?
Green plants absorb greenhouse gas CO2 from the air. Using the sun and water they build their biomass. As a plant breathes or as it decays the naturally bound CO2 is set free. In a natural balanced ecosystem such as in a forest carbon emissions are little less than CO2 absorption.
Wetlands, however, accumulate organic material as turf. The turf itself stays in the wet and acidy ground without oxygen and is hence preserved. Average wetland serves therefore as natural CO2 sink that can absorb much more than it produces and is ideal to fight against climate change.
Wetland restrauration
Former wetlands can be wetted again as long as turf has not been mined yet. After the first few years of additional emissions in dioxide the wetland will return to its natural absorption capability and will grow steadily. Restoring and maintaining wetlands is an important contribution to fighting climate change.
The rewetting process does not impair the human use of wetlands and can supply feeding materials for ruminants or generate wood, reed, sedges and other materials for sustainable building.
Share »
RSS-Feed »
Account
IBAN: DE04 7002 0500 0009 8181 00
IBAN: DE04 7002 0500 0009 8181 00
Bank Routing No.
BIC: BFSWDE33MUE
BIC: BFSWDE33MUE
Project: Bavarian National Forest
Rentauration of 29 acres of wetland in the lower Bavarian National Park.
» Flyer Wetland Protection
Location: Ahornbachl, Germany
Type: Swamp like wetland
Size: 6.6 acres
Measures: Removal of pasturage and other aufwuchs, to keep the wetland open, possible rewetting.
Location: Wagensonnriegel, Germany
Type: Swamp-like wetland
Size: 19 acres
Measures: Manual removal von aufwuchs and possible use of special machines to remove drainage ditches.
Rentauration of 29 acres of wetland in the lower Bavarian National Park.
» Flyer Wetland Protection
Location: Ahornbachl, Germany
Type: Swamp like wetland
Size: 6.6 acres
Measures: Removal of pasturage and other aufwuchs, to keep the wetland open, possible rewetting.
Location: Wagensonnriegel, Germany
Type: Swamp-like wetland
Size: 19 acres
Measures: Manual removal von aufwuchs and possible use of special machines to remove drainage ditches.
