Island Climate Care Projects
Island Climate Care
This strand of Gift to Nature is about getting back to the roots of climate change. Our aim is to reduce the Island’s greenhouse gas emissions from the land itself, and ensure the vital natural systems that will offer protection against the effects of climate change are restored. In the last 150 years a third of greenhouse gas emissions have been caused by what we’ve done with the land. That includes deforestation, draining wetlands, destruction of peat bogs, over-cultivation of farmland, and inappropriate use of nitrogen fertilisers. We are asking Island businesses to help us put some of that right, by protecting habitats such as woodland and wetland, planting fruit and nut trees (which will also reduce food miles) and helping people to appreciate the importance of conserving their soil and the organic matter in the soil. All of these help to store carbon in more stable forms – in vegetation above and below ground, and in the organic matter in wetlands and in soil. Two examples of our Island Climate Care projects are shown below.
To donate to Island Climate Care projects click here
Bohemia Bog
Better management of bogs is believed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bogs store carbon and prevent it entering the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. But they need to be managed well to increase the carbon storage potential and minimise emissions of methane. It seems that there is more carbon in British bogs than the forests of Britain and France together. Over the past few years we have doubled the size of Bohemia Bog, by clearing the scrub and encouraging cattle grazing. Gift to Nature will continue to manage the bog to preserve the fantastic wildlife while maximising the carbon storage potential.
Sandown Wetlands
Effectively managed wetlands can play a significant role in storing carbon in the soil, made from the carbon dioxide absorbed by the bog plants. Wetlands are naturally highly productive and can accumulate large below-ground stocks of organic carbon. We are managing the Sandown Wetlands to maximise the take-up of carbon while preventing the release of captured carbon which would happen if we allowed the area to degrade. We are also making the area pleasant for wildlife and people with picnic benches and wood sculptures nestled amongst the Island varieties orchard.
