India’s first ‘teal carbon’ study: UPSC Current Affairs

Description

TEAL CARBON

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Context

India’s first study on ‘teal carbon’ was undertaken at Keoladeo National Park.
It has highlighted the significance of wetland conservation to address the challenges of climate adaptation and resilience.

Details

Read about Keoladeo National Park: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/bharatpur-sanctuary#:~:text=Formerly%20known%20as%20the%20Bharatpur,for%20Maharajas%20and%20the%20British.

Read about Wetlands: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/wetlands#:~:text=They%20happen%20where%20the%20water,to%20the%20definition%20of%20wetlands.

Teal Carbon Study

The study revealed that degraded wetlands could release methane and carbon dioxide, making conservation essential.
Biochar, a form of charcoal, was suggested as a means to reduce methane emissions from wetlands.

BIOCHAR

●Biochar is black carbon produced from biomass sources (wood chips, plant residues, manure or other agricultural waste products) for the purpose of transforming the biomass carbon into a more stable form (carbon sequestration).

●Biochar is defined by the International Biochar Initiative as the "solid material obtained from the thermochemical conversion of biomass in an oxygen-limited environment".

History

●Biochar is said to have been used as a soil supplement thousands of years ago in the Amazon basin, where regions of fertile soil called "Terra Preta'" (dark earth) were created by indigenous people.

●Inhabitants of the region produced biochar by practicing 'slash and char' management on vegetation to improve soil fertility and crop yields.

Benefits

●It acts as a carbon sink, capturing atmospheric CO2 in a stable form.

●Biochar enhances soil fertility, improves water retention and nutrient uptake.

●Its ability to retain nutrients within the soil minimizes nutrient leaching.

● It fosters soil conditions that inhibit methane-producing organisms.

About Teal Carbon

Teal carbon refers to carbon stored in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, including carbon sequestered in vegetation, microbial biomass, and dissolved/particulate organic matter.
These wetlands are crucial for regulating greenhouse gasesbut are susceptible to pollution, land-use changes, and water extraction.

Global Importance

At a global scale, the storage of teal carbon in ecosystems is estimated at 21 petagrams of carbon (PgC).
Wetlands like peatlands, freshwater swamps, and marshes hold significant carbon storage potential.

Read about Peatlands: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/peatlands

Significance

Ensuring water availability and planting suitable vegetation in wetlands are crucial for maintaining the teal carbon pools.
Teal carbon ecosystems not only help mitigate climate change but also increase groundwater levels, mitigate floods, and reduce the effects of heat islands.

Sources:Hindu