Moors are enormous carbon stores and form biodiversity hotspots. In Switzerland, many moors are protected, but are nonetheless in poor condition due to lack of funding. Thanks to the rewetting measures carried out as part of the myclimate moor projects, large quantities of carbon can be captured in the soil.
Globally, moors store 30 per cent of soil carbon, despite the fact that they cover only three per cent of the world’s surface. In earlier times, moors were drained for agriculture, forestry or peat extraction. Consequently, huge amounts of CO₂ are released from the soil. In order to stop the emissions, rewetting is urgently needed. This process entails removing drainage ditches and thus restoring the natural water balance in the moors. The ecological restoration of moorland as a carbon offset project is possible thanks to new methods from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), which estimates the quantity of CO₂ emissions prevented by the restoration.
Healthy moors are not only powerful carbon sinks, they are also biodiversity hotspots. As water-rich ecosystems they provide habitats for rare and even endangered plant and animal species. A renaturation also improves flood protection, water pollution control, the microclimate and the landscape. It offers the local population a place for relaxation, and the funds invested in the renaturation are primarily used to engage regional businesses to carry out the necessary work. Consequently, myclimate is particularly proud to support these new pioneering projects.
Take a look at the post from the SRF on rewetting moors through myclimate carbon offset projects.
