USask and Métis Nation–Saskatchewan collaborate on climate change mitigation research – News – University of Saskatchewan
Mar 14, 2024
USask and Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN–S) have partnered together on a project that involves the environment, the community, experiential learning, and carbon storage data.
The project started with MN–S reaching out to USask to see if it would be interested in taking peat samples from local muskegs (also known as treed wetlands or peatlands) in the Nisbet Community Forest, to see how much carbon was stored there.
“The peat within muskegs stores an incredible amount of carbon, but this carbon sequestration is dependent on the peat being saturated with water,” said MN–S Environment Director Brent Laroque. “As the water table drops the peat begins to decompose, or burn during wildfires, releasing its stored carbon. What happens to these southern examples of muskeg may be the fate of more northern muskegs and so it is critical to establish monitoring procedures quickly.”
