Carbon Mapping Brochure and Policy Recommendations Two-Pager

WHAT’S NEXT?

Based on the findings of this study, WWF-Canada recommends the following actions be taken in partnership with all levels of government:

RECOMMENDATION 1

Avoid the conversion and degradation of large stores of carbon in nature by:

a. Creating protected and conserved areas designed to maximize carbon storage.

b. Legislating that environmental impact assessments by all levels of government take into account the presence of ecosystem carbon stocks and quantify and consider carbon emissions associated with the conversion and degradation of carbon stored in nature.

c. Managing areas of high-carbon stocks to allow continued storage of carbon and an enhanced ability to absorb it in the future.

RECOMMENDATION 2

Establish and fund a Carbon Guardians program to support interested Indigenous communities and governments in the monitoring and measurement of ecosystem carbon.

RECOMMENDATION 3

Develop a set of financial mechanisms — defined and supported collaboratively by Indigenous nations and communities, financial institutions, governments and responsible businesses — to support stewardship of carbon storage in nature.

RECOMMENDATION 4

Ensure that Canada has a clear framework for international carbon reporting and accounting for nature-based climate solutions by:

a. Including targets for avoided emissions as part of Canada’s Nationally Determined Contributions.

b. Improving monitoring and reporting of emissions from ecosystem carbon storage areas, especially for peatlands, as part of Canada’s international emissions reporting.

The findings of this study are empowering in the fight against the climate crisis. We now know exactly what we have to gain by protecting the most carbon-rich landscapes — and preventing the release of billions of tonnes of carbon that’s been stored for millennia — and what’s at risk if we don’t.

— Megan Leslie, WWF-Canada President and CEO

For more information, contact: James Snider, Vice President, Science, Knowledge and Innovation, WWF-Canada science@wwfcanada.org

To learn more: wwf.ca/carbonmap/

MAPPING CANADA’S CARBON LANDSCAPE

A NEW STUDY BY WWF-CANADA, LED BY SCIENTISTS AT M c MASTER UNIVERSITY’S REMOTE SENSING LAB, REVEALS WHERE CARBON IS STORED IN CANADA’S LANDSCAPES.

High-carbon landscapes play an important role in regulating the Earth’s climate by removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it in natural ecosystems. While these ecosystems help curb climate change, if they are disturbed, that stored carbon can be released back to the atmosphere, accelerating climate change.

This study showed Canada is home to billions — yes billions — of tonnes of carbon. And while some is stored in the trees and natural landscapes that Canada is known for, the study found disproportionately large carbon stocks underground, in soils and peatlands throughout the country, including in many Indigenous territories.

This national carbon map helps us understand where large ecosystem carbon stocks are located, which allows us to prioritize their protection and management. The results will change the way we approach conservation in Canada: we can now be much more strategic in how we implement nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) — strategies that use the unique powers of nature to catch and store carbon while also benefitting wildlife — and be more effective in our fight against the climate and biodiversity crises.

Canada stores massive amounts of carbon in its terrestrial ecosystems — 405 Pg, to be exact. This is equivalent to about 30 years of human-caused global greenhouse gas emissions, at 2019 emission levels.

About five per cent of this carbon is stored in vegetation (trees, shrubs, grasses, dead leaves and roots). The remaining 95 per cent is found in the top one metre of soil (with 24 per cent of soil carbon found in peatlands). In fact, soils in Canada store 384 Pg of carbon in the top metre, which is about a quarter of the world’s soil carbon.

These findings show that we need to consider carbon at different depths when deciding what areas are critical to protect. Canada’s carbon is also globally significant. Decisions about how to manage and protect carbon-rich landscapes have the potential to impact our goals of keeping warming below 1.5oC.

Total terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage across Canada. Darker shades represent larger carbon stocks. The study revealed significant carbon stores in coastal British Columbia’s forests, the boreal forest and the Hudson and James Bay Lowlands.

This analysis was completed by Sothe et al. (2021). The accompanying journal article (DOI: 10.1002/essoar.10507117.2) and data (DOI: 10.4121/c.5421810.v3) can be accessed online.

CARBON IN CANADA

Carbon is stored in different amounts at different depths. Our study found that the total amount of carbon is highest in soils and, on average, peat soils have the highest density of carbon.

HOW WE MAPPED CARBON

Over the span of two years, the research team fed data — soil samples, long-term satellite data and topographic and climate variables — into a machine-learning algorithm. Researchers were able to estimate carbon at a 250-metre spatial resolution in different carbon pools (plant biomass and soils), as well as at multiple depths (1–2 metres).

CASE STUDY: HUDSON AND JAMES BAY LOWLANDS

The Hudson Plain ecozone has considerably more soil carbon per area than any other ecozone in Canada, largely due to massive concentrations of peatlands, which store and sequester more carbon than any other type of terrestrial ecosystem. Within this ecozone, the Hudson and James Bay Lowlands are a globally renowned ecosystem carbon store that has formed over tens of thousands of years.

Protecting one of the world’s largest peatland complexes from releasing its stored carbon is critical — not only for the First Nations communities in the area, but for our country’s climate targets and people around the planet — and helps to safeguard wetland and coastal wildlife, including migratory birds. that call it home.

© WWF-Canada / Casa Di Media Productions

MAPPING CANADA’S CARBON LANDSCAPE

We now know the location of billions of tonnes of ecosystem carbon in Canada. Here are WWF-Canada’s recommendations for action.

A new study by WWF-Canada scientists, and led by researchers at McMaster University’s Remote Sensing Lab, reveals the location of massive amounts of ecosystem carbon in Canada — across all terrestrial systems and at depths of up to two metres. The findings should form a foundation for conservation actions that will result in greenhouse gas reductions by preventing the release of carbon stored in nature, and creating greater potential to absorb additional atmospheric carbon in the future.

To achieve a pathway to net-zero and a 1.5°C future, it is critical to protect and steward ecosystem carbon stores. In Canada — and around the world — this must be done in a just and equitable way that recognizes and advances the rights of Indigenous Peoples, including supporting Indigenous governance, cultures and knowledge systems. There is an opportunity and responsibility to act urgently to advance a new form of conservation that delivers meaningful and lasting impacts that benefit climate, nature and people.

All levels of government need to take urgent and meaningful action. WWF-Canada is actively working to support the following initiatives and seeks opportunity for collaboration with government and other actors to help make Canada a global leader in protecting and managing ecosystem carbon.

RECOMMENDATION 1

Avoid the conversion and degradation of large stores of carbon in nature by:

a. Creating protected and conserved areas designed to maximize carbon storage.

b. Legislating that environmental impact assessments by all levels of government take into account the presence of ecosystem carbon stocks and quantify and consider carbon emissions associated with the conversion and degradation of carbon stored in nature.

c. Managing areas of high-carbon stocks to allow continued storage of carbon and an enhanced ability to absorb it in the future.

RECOMMENDATION 2

Establish and fund a Carbon Guardians program to support interested Indigenous communities and governments in the monitoring and measurement of ecosystem carbon.

RECOMMENDATION 3

Develop a set of financial mechanisms — defined and supported collaboratively by Indigenous nations and communities, financial institutions, governments and responsible businesses — to support stewardship of carbon storage in nature.

RECOMMENDATION 4

Ensure that Canada has a clear framework for international carbon reporting and accounting for nature-based climate solutions by:

a. Including targets for avoided emissions as part of Canada’s Nationally Determined Contributions.

b. Improving monitoring and reporting of emissions from ecosystem carbon storage areas, especially for peatlands, as part of Canada’s international emissions reporting.

© WWF-Canada / Casa Di Media Productions

RECOMMENDATION 1

Avoid the conversion and degradation of large stores of carbon in nature by:

a. Creating protected and conserved areas designed to maximize carbon storage. The protection of ecosystem carbon stores must be a priority. We need to ensure those protections are in “the right places” — areas of high importance for wildlife as well as carbon storage and sequestration. To demonstrate global leadership, all levels of government should integrate climate change mitigation and biodiversity benefits into relevant policies, programs and legislation for protected areas and land management to make them more effective as nature-based climate solutions. These efforts have to uphold the principles of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the principle of Free-Prior-and-Informed consent, and be led or supported by Indigenous nations and communities in a way that advances their priorities and self-determination. Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) may be central to achieving these outcomes.

b. Legislating that environmental impact assessments by all levels of government take into account the presence of ecosystem carbon stocks and quantify and consider carbon emissions associated with the conversion and degradation of carbon stored in nature.

It is essential to evaluate the carbon footprint of proposed projects — the potential for emissions if landscapes are degraded, and increased absorption if they are maintained — and the impact they will have on our national climate and biodiversity targets. Integrating Indigenous rights, governance and knowledge into environmental permitting processes and impact assessments is critical for transformational change.

c. Managing areas of high-carbon stocks to allow continued storage of carbon and an enhanced ability to absorb it in the future.

Leadership is needed across all sectors and regions to create and implement new policies and programs that maximize the climate change mitigation benefits of management activities in carbon-dense ecosystems. Natural ecosystems can continue to sequester and store carbon through proper management. Enhanced management of working landscapes can accomplish the same.

RECOMMENDATION 2

Establish and fund a Carbon Guardians program to support interested Indigenous communities and governments in the monitoring and measurement of ecosystem carbon.

Large carbon storage areas are found in Indigenous territories across Canada as a result of a millennia of responsible management by Indigenous Peoples. We need to recognize, elevate, and prioritize Indigenous stewardship, including supporting dedicated efforts to measure and monitor carbon stewarded by Indigenous peoples. Creating and resourcing Carbon Guardians could further support efforts to advance Guardians programs in Canada and globally.

RECOMMENDATION 3

Develop a set of financial mechanisms — defined and supported collaboratively by Indigenous nations and communities, financial institutions, governments and responsible businesses — to support stewardship of carbon storage in nature.

Investment in new financial mechanisms (both market and non-market) that deliver sources of livelihoods and well-being for local and Indigenous communities is key to sustaining long-term protection and stewardship of important carbon storage areas. Investments should directly support communities to help achieve equitable, effective and just conservation outcomes, including through additional funding, regulatory support and collaboration.

RECOMMENDATION 4

Ensure Canada has a clear framework for international carbon reporting and accounting for nature-based climate solutions by:

a. Including targets for avoided emissions as part of Canada’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Canada’s updated NDC commits to further reducing emissions and acknowledges the role nature and protected and conserved areas can play. But it falls short of including a specific emissions reductions goal derived from avoided conversion, or from future carbon sequestration from protected lands. An enhanced NDC and supplementary documentation with additional specifics for NbCS is key. Targets and accounting associated with avoided conversion must account for the principles of imminent threat and additionality.

b. Improving monitoring and reporting of emissions from ecosystem carbon storage areas, especially for peatlands, as part of Canada’s international emissions reporting.

Canada’s peatlands cover more than 12 per cent of the country and hold about a quarter of global peatland carbon. They also contain the greatest densities of carbon in the analysis but are not sufficiently included in reporting through National Inventory Reports (NIR). Comprehensive and accurate accounting of emissions from the degradation of ecosystem carbon should be included within the NIR — in particular, improved monitoring and reporting of peatland emissions.

For more information, contact:

James Snider, Vice President, Science, Knowledge and Innovation, WWF-Canada science@wwfcanada.org

To learn more: wwf.ca/carbonmap/ WWF® and ©1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF®.

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