Did you know that northern Ontario is home to one of the most unique ecosystems on the planet? Found in the Hudson Bay Lowland, the boreal peatlands are doing amazing things for the planet! A peatland is a type of wetland ecosystem, characterized by its waterlogged ground that builds up TONS of carbon through the decay of dead plants. Once decayed, the plant carbon is stored in the soil where it can stay locked up for thousands of years. All that carbon that ends up in the soil instead of the atmosphere goes a long way for helping slow down climate change!

Even though they cover less than 3% of the earth’s surface, peatlands store more carbon than all of the planet’s forests combined. And here in Ontario, we’re lucky enough to be home to the second biggest peatland complex in the world! Sadly this important ecosystem is under threat from climate change, deforestation, and industrial development – and these animals need your help!

Besides providing habitat for animals like the polar bear, caribou, and wood frog (just to name a few!), the boreal peatlands in northern Ontario are doing amazing things for the planet – and we need to do our part to help protect them! That’s why we’re working on a project with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Canada to help them advance policy and science actions that will conserve these important peatland ecosystems. Since they’re such an incredible carbon store (remember they can hold carbon in their soil for thousands of years – that’s carbon that won’t get released into the atmosphere!), they should be recognized globally as a natural climate change solution, and we need to learn all we can about how they might be affected if disturbances like climate warming and industrial development continue.

Head to the Adoptions Section in the Earth Rangers App or visit the Earth Rangers Shop to get your Adoption Kit and help make a difference today!