For MN's climate action vision, powerful peatlands look for a spot

Minnesotans have until midnight Nov. 9 to weigh in on the state's updated blueprint for fighting climate change.

Conservationists point out there's one tool, thousands of years in the making, already doing its job but in need of protections.

Sometimes referred to as a climate superpower, peatlands are ancient, waterlogged ecosystems – made up of partially decayed plant matter – that work to store carbon.

In Minnesota, peatlands keep at least 4 billion metric tons of carbon under wraps.

Brad Gausman, executive director of the Minnesota Conservation Federation, said when people drive in the northern half of the state to see fall colors or relax at their cabin, these wetlands will look familiar.

"They are such a rich and vibrant ecosystem within our state and something that makes Minnesota unique," said Gausman. "And so, there's just really an opportunity for Minnesotans to appreciate these lands, kind of help lend their voice and support to restoring damaged peatlands."

Practices like draining peatlands for agriculture have degraded them over time. Even if land was never converted for farming, those actions put peatlands at risk of releasing the carbon they're storing.

Minnesota recently issued a draft plan of the latest Climate Action Framework, last updated in 2022. There's language on restoring these carbon-sequestering wonders.

Despite its current investments, Minnesota is leasing state-owned land for peat mining.

Peatlands also represent an important aspect of life for regional Native American tribes. They keep area waterways cleaner for fishing and wild rice harvesting, protect plant species for traditional medicine, and hold a deep spiritual connection.

Stacy Zeigler is the forested wetland manager for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and she said protecting peatlands along their reservation is challenging.

"We refer to it as a checkerboard quite often, you know – you may have one peatland, and in that you have six different types of ownership," said Zeigler. "So, you know, we can't just make a choice to do something on a piece of land."

Some of those challenges can be tied to the historical illegal transfers of land to the federal government. Last year, federal officials announced 1,000 acres were restored to the Leech Lake Band.

But Zeigler said for peatland management, regional tribes still have limited staff and resources. As for the Climate Action Framework, the final version is expected to be released early next year.

Scientists say north-central Minnesota is one of the fastest warming spots in the U.S.

Zeigler said losing more peatlands would compound the environmental threats tribal members face.

"Tribes are great at recognizing the value of healthy, interconnected nature," said Zeigler. "And the more that those healthy connections are broken, the more that humans suffer."