Mosses Matter: The Hidden Heroes of Earth’s

Carbon Cycle

By Makhzumul Islam Mahdi
Bangladesh Energy, Climate & Finance Forum (BECFF)

Category: Climate | Environment | Ecosystem

Introduction

Forests are typically the focus of the conversation when talking about climate change and carbon storage. Trees are sometimes referred to as the lungs of the planet because they take up carbon dioxide and hold it in their biomass. But there’s another formidable natural ally in the fight against climate change: soil mosses.

Although small in stature, mosses are an important component of the Earth’s carbon cycle, improving soil fertility, and contributing to ecosystem resilience. New research indicates that they offer ecosystem functions that are much greater than once thought.

Natural sink for carbon dioxide by using mosses.

A pioneering international research study in Nature Geoscience (2023) revealed that moss carpets are able to sequester much more carbon than bare soils.

It was estimated that there are 6.43 billion tons of carbon more in moss-covered soils globally than in soils without moss. This stored carbon is up to six times greater than the carbon emissions released each year from the world’s land-use change, which is surprising.

This discovery suggests a new approach to safeguarding moss habitats could be a key strategy for enhancing natural carbon sinks and potentially reducing climate change.

Going Beyond Carbon: Advancing Soil Health

The advantages of mosses go beyond carbon sequestration.

Moss communities help to:

More nutrient available, e.g. nitrogen, phosphorus.
Improved soil water holding capacity.
Better soil structure and soil stability.
More diversity of microorganisms, contributing to the functioning of the ecosystem.

These processes are essential to sustain healthy and productive ecosystems.

How Mosses Help Landscapes

Moss-rich soils help ecosystems become more resilient by:

✓ Resisting soil erosion
✓ Withstanding drought conditions
✓ Enhancing nutrient cycling
✓ Supporting biodiversity
✓ Reducing the use of the soil for crops each year

Mosses can be a primary building block of ecosystem stability and recovery in areas where they are not common in large numbers.

Why This Matters for Climate Policy

Forests, renewable energy and technological carbon removal are often addressed during climate discussions. But natural climate solutions must also cover the protection of smaller but also very effective ecosystems.

Protecting moss rich soils would:

Increase naturally occurring carbon sequestration.
Enhance the quality of the soil and resilience of agriculture.
Support biodiversity conservation.
Improve ecosystems resilience to climate change.

Conservation of soil ecosystems could be a large benefit in the long term if integrated into environmental policy as nations strive for their climate targets and to become a net-zero nation.

Conclusion

Mosses are the solutions that come in small packages but pack a big punch when thinking about climate solutions. They play an essential role in the environment’s system in carbon storage, soil health and ecosystem resilience.

Preserving and revitalizing mossy habitats is more than just an ecological issue; it’s an investment in a more resilient and sustainable future.

Reference

Eldridge, D.J., Guirado, E., Reich, P.B. et al. (2023). Soil mosses as ecosystem services worldwide. Nature Geoscience, 16, 430–438.
DOI: 10.1038/s41561–023–01170-x

Keywords

Soil Moss; Carbon Sequestration; Carbon Cycle; Ecosystem Services; Soil Health; Climate Change; Natural carbon sinks; Biodiversity Hashtags