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For the past few years, people have planted trees in the effort to stop global warming.
But now some scientists think they’ve found another solution: restoring wetlands.
These marshy areas absorb carbon dioxide, the principal heat-trapping gas blamed for warming the planet. Their storage capacity may be greater per acre than forests, scientists said.

That little-known function of wetlands could lead to a major role in federal efforts to combat climate change and an environmental boon for the Texas coast.

Climate change legislation that has passed the U.S. House and is similar to measures under consideration in the Senate would allow industries to use offsets worth up to 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Offsets are credits that enable polluters to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by investing in projects that remove greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.

They are part of legislation creating a broader system called cap-and-trade, which would set a limit on carbon emissions and create a market for polluters to buy and sell emissions permits.

Already, some electric power generators are paying private foresters to plant seedlings and allow trees to grow larger before logging, increasing the amount of carbon stored in the woods.

Other companies are paying farmers to cultivate their fields without plowing, so the soil retains the carbon that would otherwise seep into the air.
Lots of unknowns

As for restoring wetlands to absorb carbon dioxide, the idea is still in its infancy.

The value of wetlands is considerable: they filter and cleanse water, provide habitats for many wildlife species and serve as buffers against hurricanes and storm surges. But their worth as a carbon commodity isn’t clear.

Related posts:

1. SFO carbon offset kiosks first in U.S., but what ARE carbon offsets?
2. Hurricanes can diminish a forest’s ability to absorb CO2 from atmosphere
3. Utility to Plant 1 Million Trees in Arkansas for Carbon Offsets
4. Can Countries Cut Carbon Emissions Without Hurting Economic Growth?
5. Pennsylvania wants to allow power companies to capture carbon dioxide emissions and put them into the ground.

Tags: Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Emission, Emission Reduction