The Significance of Teal Carbon in Freshwater Wetlands

INDIA’S FIRST TEAL CARBON STUDY ON WETLAND CONSERVATION

1. What is teal carbon?

Teal carbon refers to carbon stored in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, including carbon in vegetation, microbial biomass, and dissolved or particulate organic matter. It plays a significant role in regulating greenhouse gases.

2. Why is the Keoladeo National Park significant for this study?

Keoladeo National Park (KNP) in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, was chosen for India’s first teal carbon study due to its rich freshwater wetlands, which serve as a critical ecosystem for evaluating teal carbon’s role in climate adaptation and resilience.

3. What are the potential benefits of teal carbon ecosystems?

Teal carbon ecosystems can help mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon, raising groundwater levels, reducing urban heat islands, and mitigating floods. However, degradation of wetlands can lead to methane and carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to global warming.

4. What are the main challenges facing teal carbon ecosystems?

Challenges include pollution, changes in land use, water extraction, and landscape modifications. These factors degrade wetlands, releasing harmful greenhouse gases.

5. How can teal carbon ecosystems be conserved?

Conservation efforts involve reducing methane emissions through the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material, and ensuring sustainable water and vegetation management in wetlands.

6. What is the global significance of teal carbon storage?

Globally, freshwater wetlands store an estimated 500.21 petagrams of carbon (PgC). Effective conservation of these ecosystems could significantly contribute to global climate change mitigation efforts.

“Conservation of nature is not a luxury, but a necessity for our survival.”

Share: