If you've ever looked at a bog, chances are you didn't draw the conclusion that the landscape was potentially a vital part of preserving the health of our planet. In the new book Water, Carbon, Time: Exploring Peatlands in a Warming World, author Jennifer de Mooy shines a light on these important ecosystems.
"Peatlands are a type of wetland, and they're special because... they absorb and store carbon for very long periods of time," says de Mooy. "They have kind of a superpower for absorbing and storing carbon for thousands of years." After a trip to Ireland with her father instigated her interest in peatlands, de Mooy launched into a long career in conservation, including work with climate policy.
These unique ecosystems are not always easy to identify, though they are found across the globe. In her studies of peatlands, de Mooy traveled to Minnesota, Maine, British Colombia, Alaska, and even as far south as Peru. "You can't always tell when you're in a peatland. They don't have a specific look to them," says de Mooy. "I found them fascinating on a number of different levels."
Understanding and utilizing peatlands for conservation purposes begins with preservation and restoring damaged peatlands. "I hope that this book will help will open some people's eyes to how some landscapes like peatlands that don't necessarily capture the eye in terms of aesthetic beauty... are really important ecologically."
The author will be at Zenith Bookstore tonight, November 5th at 7pm for an event and conversation. Water, Carbon, Time is available at Zenith Bookstore, many other booksellers, and online through the University of Minnesota Press website.
Minnesota Reads is produced at The North 103.3 with funding provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
