Dishing dirt on Canada's other 'black gold'

by Maria Strack. This article originally appeared on the Faculty of Environment's news page.

We don’t often think about the value of dirt, particularly if it’s in a cold and soggy bog. In fact, Canada’s northern wetland soils are worth a lot. As we celebrate World Wetlands Day, it might be time to take a new look at these ecosystems.

Wetland ecosystems cover 14 per cent of Canada’s land area. Most of these wetlands are peatlands, a thick soil, rich in organic matter also called bogs, fens and muskeg, located in northern regions. This organic matter is a giant store of carbon, and that carbon is valuable.

Peatlands in Canada started accumulating carbon about 12,000 years ago once glaciers started retreating off the landscape. Research indicates that since that time, this consistent accumulation of carbon in northern peatlands has resulted in a net cooling of the atmosphere. And the only way to maintain this cooling impact is to keep that carbon in the ground. These wetlands are providing us with climate change mitigation – and they’re doing it for free.

The international community already recognizes this important role and value of wetland soils. Just last year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) accepted updated guidelines on greenhouse gas accounting for wetlands. These will better ensure that the impact of disturbance and restoration on these carbon stocks will be adequately accounted for in the national greenhouse gas inventories that countries submit annually to the United Nations. Given that the mass of carbon stored in wetland soils across the globe is equivalent to at least 60 per cent of the carbon currently in the atmosphere, this interest is not surprising.

So how much carbon is in Canada’s peat soil? Peatlands alone cover 12 per cent of the country – nearly 1.1 million square kilometers. The actual soil depth is variable and not well known, but using a conservative estimate of 1.5 metres deep would mean that a whopping 160 billion tonnes of carbon is stored in these soils. If this were released as carbon dioxide, the total mass would be over 585 billion tonnes.

This is a lot of carbon. To put it in perspective, Canada’s annual greenhouse gas emissions are currently about 700 million tonnes. So, release of these soil carbon stocks would be equivalent to over 800 years of greenhouse gas emissions at current levels.

But, there are many threats to Canadian wetlands. Any activity that dries out these normally wet soils will start releasing stored carbon. Drying exposes the organic matter to oxygen, speeding up its decomposition. It also makes these ecosystems more susceptible to wildfires – a rapid way to convert stored organic matter into carbon dioxide. Industrial development in Canada’s north often involves drainage of wetland areas for easier access across otherwise swampy ground. In addition, to get to buried resources, these organic soils are excavated and stored in stockpiles, an activity that also dries out the soils.

While we often discuss the value of natural resources in Canada’s north, we don’t usually consider wetland soils as one of these. But methods are in place that value soil carbon. For example, farmers can be paid for reducing tillage, a practice that helps to keep more carbon in agricultural soils. International pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has started to set the dollar value for carbon in Canada. For example, in Alberta one option for large industrial emitters that exceed their greenhouse gas intensity is to pay into the Climate Change Emissions Management Fund at a rate of $15 per tonne of carbon dioxide. Placing this value on our wetland soil carbon stocks suggests they could be worth at least $8.7 trillion. Using British Columbia’s $30 per tonne carbon tax rate would double this value.

There’s little doubt that wetlands provide a wide array of environmental values – water storage and purification, wildlife habitat, recreation. Given the important role that wetland soils play in storing carbon, let’s not forget about the value their dirt.

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A few snips made all the difference

This is the latest in a series of #UWCommunity stories that feature Waterloo in the community.

This past January 23, a few simple snips made a big difference.

By hosting Haircuts of Hope in the SLC Atrium, the Renison Academic Student Council and the Social Development Studies Society were able to raise over $500 for the local charity, Monica Place: a shelter in Waterloo Region that provides a safe and healthy environment for pregnant and parenting youth.

Through a partnership with Voila Salons, they provided University of Waterloo students with inexpensive and fantastic haircuts from six professional stylists who volunteered their time. More importantly, this initiative brought the salon to the school, bridging the gap between student and stylist, and giving our young minds a chance to connect with a local business and feel good about donating to a community cause.

For more feel-good fun, join RASC and SDS Society as they host A Night on the Red Carpet – an Academic Gala taking place Friday March 27, 2015 in Federation Hall. Indulge in a dinner and dance, bringing together all students, faculty, and staff who have made significant contributions to the Renison University community. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. 

RASC/SDS Society is a student-run government composed of undergraduate students registered at Renison University College whose main goals are to advocate for the needs of their members and enhance their social setting while at university.

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Senate meets today and other notes

The February meeting of the University's Senate will take place today at 3:30 p.m. in NH 3001.

Agenda items include academic plan changes in the Faculty of Arts, Engineering and Environment, approvals for updates to the 2015-2016 calendar dates, and reports from the President, Vice-President, Academic & Provost, and Vice-President, University Research.

There will also be a discussion about the University's weather closing guidelines.

The Library is inviting all comers to help test its new website from now until Saturday, February 28. "Help us make our new website easier for you to use by taking our 10-minute online test," says the note from the Library. "The test is task-based and focuses on click-preference and site navigation. Your responses will help us to organize the content on our website."

"To thank you for your participation, you will be eligible to win an iPad mini."

Waterloo alumnus Chris Williams received an Academy Award last night for his work as co-director of animated film Big Hero 6, which took the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Williams completed a Fine Arts degree at Waterloo and studied animation at Sheridan College before joining Disney.

Chris's father, Jack Williams, was the University of Waterloo's Director of Counselling Services for 33 years, retiring in 2002. Jack Williams died in 2011.

This was Chris Williams's second Oscar nomination; in 2008 his directorial debut Bolt was nominated for best animated feature. Inflatable robot fist bumps all around!

Employers on campus this week hosting employer information sessions include: Ginger.io, LogiSense Corporation, Careerify, TATA Consultancy Services, Flatiron Health, Digiflare Inc., The Working Group, McRae Integration Ltd. and AeroFS. Visit the info sessions calendar for more information.

On a personal note, I'd like to say thanks to my colleagues in Marketing and Strategic Communications for taking care of the Daily Bulletin in my absence these past two weeks.

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