Carbon Sequestration in the Landscape Series: #7 – Carbon Sequestration to Mitigate Climate Change
The embodied energy and carbon footprint of traditional landscape practices contribute directly and indirectly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reaches new highs, solutions to the climate change crisis must be embraced by the entire landscape industry.
Healthy vegetation works together with soil rich in organic matter and beneficial microorganisms to remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it as soil carbon, an important strategy for addressing climate change. Strategies include regenerative soil management practices, such as applying compost and mulch, limiting and alleviating soil compaction, designing landscapes to protect mature trees, planting large stature trees, and choosing materials with low embodied energy and carbon footprint to mitigate climate change.
Responses