How to Catch a Ton of Carbon Dioxide

Greenhouse gasses are warming our climate, and carbon dioxide is the primary greenhouse gas. How do you catch and hold carbon dioxide so it stays sequestered, unable to impact the atmosphere?

The answer is — build up wetlands.

Wetlands and marshes along the shore are among the best tools we have for lowering carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. According to an article in Science Daily, wetland plants could actually sequester up to eight tons of carbon dioxide per acre every year. That's a lot of carbon dioxide.

What's more, wetlands also protect the land from storm surges and provide wildlife habitat.

Over the years, we've depleted wetlands all around the world in the name of construction projects, farming, roads and more. Now, though, soil scientists are rebuilding coastal marshes. To achieve their goals, project researchers pump dirt and sediment from the bottoms of rivers and bays into washed-out marshes. They plant new marsh grasses which grow, die and decompose in the water — taking carbon dioxide down with them.

Dr. Brian Needleman of the University of Maryland is a leader in the work of marsh restoration. Already, he's led the restoration of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland, and is beginning work on restoration of marshlands in the Chesapeake Bay area.