New research shows that west coast tidal swamps are almost as important as Mexican coastal mangrove forests when it comes to storing carbon.
The study looked at more than 6,500 kilometres of coastline along the Pacific, and found that regions with woody vegetation were the best at storing organic carbon in the sediment.
It found that tidal swamps in the Pacific Northwest and mangrove forests in Mexico were similar, and were actually about two times more efficient than northern forests when it comes to storing carbon.
Tidal swamps have often been converted to marshlands in the past under the belief it’s better for the environment. However, the researchers say their data shows how preserving them is important for local ecosystems and responding to climate change.
