Beavers Boost Carbon Storage in Wetlands

Beavers can transform stream corridors into effective carbon dioxide sinks, according to a new international study. Researchers at the University of Birmingham led the study, which quantified carbon emissions and sequestration in a Swiss stream corridor with over a decade of beaver activity. They found beaver-engineered wetlands store carbon at rates up to ten times higher than similar systems without beavers.

Over thirteen years, the studied wetland accumulated 1,194 metric tons of carbon, equaling 10.1 metric tons of CO2 per hectare annually. Beavers achieve this by slowing water flow, trapping sediment, and expanding wetlands.

The system functions as a net carbon sink of 98.3 metric tons per year, with minimal methane emissions. Researchers estimate beaver wetlands in Switzerland could offset 1.2–1.8% of the nation’s annual carbon emissions if populations expand.