You know those soggy, low places, where the trees are leaning like they have had too much to drink, and the sharp yellow of the Tamaracks in fall makes you want to go for a long walk? Those are the places we are discussing today. Edward Struzik joins me to discuss his new book, Swamplands. He details the cultural histories, folklore, economic activities, species at risk, carbon capture capacity, flood mitigation, and future of the world’s peatlands.
Episode highlight
Edward Struzik speaks about the role of peatlands in maintaining the health of the ecosystem.
Resources
Edward’s book: Swamplands: Tundra Beavers, Quaking Bogs, and the Improbable World of Peat
Sponsors
West Fraser: https://www.westfraser.com/
GreenLink Forestry Inc.: http://greenlinkforestry.com/
Damaged Timber: https://www.damagedtimber.com/
Giveaway
Enter YourForest10 at checkout at the Damaged Timber store for a 10% discount!
Quotes
34.37- 34.49: “Peatlands offer a much much better opportunity to deal with climate change issues and… also mitigate floods.”
Takeaways
Biological hotspots (04.42)
Edward speaks about his month-long river trip bursting with biodiversity which inspired him to write his book. He realized that peatlands provide great soil conditions as a medium for growth due to the accumulation of partially decayed vegetation in the wet, cold environment. Flora and fauna use peat for protection from the cold, and it used to be a commercial form of insulation as well.
From pollutification to peatlands (13.09)
Edward explains that peatlands are formed by a kind of swamping and most of that swamping in 80% of the peatlands of the world comes from the quick recession of glaciers filling up depressions with cold water, where organic matter collects. Swamps and marshes don’t accumulate as much peat as quickly as fens and bogs do, which are the primary accumulators of peat.
Wetlands are not wastelands (16.33)
Edward shares some superstitions surrounding wetlands that arose due to the methane making them glow in the dark, and how they have been represented in popular culture. The smell of sulphur dioxide arising from the peat as well as the diseases from the bacteria in the water supply have evoked a revulsion in the public. In the USA, multiple efforts have been made to drain peatlands but foresters know that they are not bad for ecological health.
An inexpensive, healthy ecosystem with carbon storage (28.01)
Edward learned that the peatland ecosystem has 5 times more carbon storage capacity than an equivalent area in the Amazon rainforest. He believes that restoring peatlands will have more of an impact on controlling climate change than any other effort. Peat releases polysaccharides which block bacterial growth, it filters runoff from the farms to prevent the growth of algae in lakes, helps in preventing forest fires, mitigates floods, and hosts many carnivorous plants.
How to save the planet (37.01)
Edward describes the efforts made to restore peatlands by bringing back the water that was drained and providing seeds for moss and other plants to grow. He has been advocating and teaching about controlled burning to thin out the forest, as indigenous communities do, which reduces the intensity of fires and makes more moisture available. Converting wetlands to forests doesn't bring about a healthy ecosystem.
Restoring the peatland, restoring the habitat (51.60)
Edward laments that limiting peatlands prevents the 3 to 5 billion birds that migrate from the south to nest. He cites studies and recalls stories discussing how different species of animals take refuge in peatlands. The number of roads the oil and sand industry has created has been an impediment to the survival of these species. Foresters are not allowed to use their roads, which leads them to build more roads for their use.
Protecting the protector of nature (1.06.59)
Edward continues to discover new things about peatlands, like new species of insects and plants that they foster. That is why they need to be protected from all-terrain vehicle competitions across muskegs that can start forest fires or the draining of wetlands that causes flooding. With investment toward restoring peatlands, we can “have much more success storing carbon, filtering water, buffering forests from wildfire and protecting endangered species”.
Read, enjoy and learn! (1.18.25)
Edward approaches his writing as a form of entertainment. He recognizes that there aren’t clear sides to an argument, and his aim in his book is to translate the debate of complex scientific issues to dinner-party conversation for the reader. He also aims to be more positive and centered, using optimism in his writing instead of picking sides in a battle. Read his book to discover the magic of swamplands!
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