North Carolina project aims to revive peatland and capture carbon
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Scientists and investors in North Carolina are working to restore 23 square miles of peatland near Belhaven.
For decades, ditches have drained water from the peat, a buildup of partially decayed plant matter accumulated over thousands of years. This drainage leaves the land susceptible to drought and fire, and it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Peatlands store approximately one-third of the world’s carbon, exceeding the amount held in all forests combined.
The project, led by Pantheon Regeneration, intends to raise the water table back to its original level. Restoring saturated conditions will help the peatland recapture carbon and preserve essential wildlife habitat. Pantheon Regeneration plans to fund continued preservation efforts by selling carbon credits generated from the restored peatland. Researchers at Duke University, including ecology professor Curt Richardson and research scientist Neal Flanagan, are collecting soil samples to monitor the peatland’s condition and the project's impact.
The effort is part of a larger goal to protect a million acres of peatland stretching from Virginia to Florida.
