Destruction of Wetlands Could Unleash a "Carbon Bomb"
by Jeremy Elton Jacquot, Los Angeles on 07.22.08
Image from StormyDog
It may seem hard to believe, but the planet's wetlands, which comprise 6% of its land surface area, contain 771 billion tons of carbon dioxide -- 20% of the Earth's carbon supply and roughly the same amount that is currently in the atmosphere. Wetlands include a wide array of different ecosystems, such as marshes, swamps, river deltas and mangroves, and perform a variety of vital ecological functions.
It shouldn't come as a surprise then that scientists are now warning that their destruction could unleash the equivalent of a carbon "bomb," with grave consequences for the world's climate.
Image from Dean Forbes
Another climate tipping point?
A tipping point of such magnitude could very well precipitate Earth into a period of "abrupt" climate change -- causing fundamental shifts in our climate that would seriously endanger human and natural systems. Over the past century, around 60% of the world's wetlands have been cleared to make way for urban development and agricultural activities. A number of other anthropogenic activities, including pollution and groundwater pumping, have only made things worse.
Restoring our wetlands now would be easier and cheaper
As we saw in the case of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the wanton destruction of wetlands for human gain can have devastating consequences. While we may be unable to stop the rapid melting of wetland permafrost in the Arctic, which could cause the release of another carbon bomb, scientists stress that it would be far cheaper to maintain our existing wetlands now than wait and try rebuilding them later.
Consequences of a warming world
Paulo Teixeira, the coordinator of Brazil's Pantanal Regional Environment Program, told Reuters' Deborah Zabarenko that climate change could evaporate their water supply and, as sea levels continue to rise, cause their inundation. With climate scientists predicting that a warmer world will bring more frequent storms, protecting our wetlands now could save us a lot of trouble down the line.
Via ::Reuters: Wetlands could unleash "carbon bomb" (news website)
Rescuing our declining wetlands
::Kenyan Biofuel Expansion in Wetland Halted by Court, Temporarily
::Florida to Buy Back Wetlands from U.S. Sugar
::Restoring Farmland to Wetlands
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
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- Japan's CO2 Emissions Up 8 Percent Since 1990
- China's Coal Fires Burn 20 Million Tons of Coal Per Year
- Potent Greenhouse Gas on the Rise: Atmospheric Methane Levels Being Increasing Again
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If this is true, what you say here, then Mexico is about to set off a chain of bombs across not far from our border.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/07/080721-mangroves.html
Please stop using "carbon" and "carbon dioxide" interchangeably. They are vastly different substances and using carbon as shorthand for CO2 does nothing but lessen the power of your message.