Ecosystem restoration in the Scottish Highlands isn’t going to plan – here’s why
Crofters who have managed the land for centuries are being offered dubious rewards to risk their rights.
Feb. 5, 2024 • ~8 min
Crofters who have managed the land for centuries are being offered dubious rewards to risk their rights.
Nearly a third of all moorland burning in Scotland occurs on peat soil – a vital carbon sink.
Large stretches of the Arctic are carbon-rich peat bogs. As the region warms and dries, lightning strikes can spark underground fires that can burn for years.
Orangutans are vocal animals, so analyzing their calls during events like wildfires can indicate how smoke is affecting their health.
Peat is partially decomposed plant matter that has accumulated over thousands of years.
The UK's marshes, bogs and fens provided the bare necessities of daily life for many centuries.
Peat beds around the world hold huge quantities of carbon and keep it from warming the planet. But rising temperatures and over-use could turn them from a brake on climate change into an accelerant.
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