LANDSCAPES absorb carbon dioxide and store it in the soil.
Some landscapes do this better than others; how we manage the spaces around us not only impacts wildlife, but also our planet.
Often, the richer a habitat is in wildlife, the more carbon it can store.
Nature conservation and combatting climate change therefore go hand in hand.
If we are to fight climate change, we urgently need to restore the habitats we have lost across our county.
For an example of this, look no further than grasslands. Semi-natural grasslands, bursting with wildflowers, are an important carbon sink.
It is estimated that these wildlife-rich habitats can store more than four times as much carbon as arable or grazed grasslands.
In the last hundred years, however, 97 per cent of the UK’s semi-natural grasslands have been lost to grazing and farming.
When arable land is transformed back into semi-natural grasslands, it reverts to storing much more carbon.
Wigwell Nature Reserve in Charlbury is a good example of a thriving semi-natural grassland.
For another example, consider ponds. In the last 150 years, 75 per cent of the UK’s ponds have vanished.
This is not only a problem for wildlife but also for our atmosphere, as ponds can play a helpful role in storing carbon.
As ponds age, they build up sediment which locks carbon into the earth.
A 2014 study discovered that a one metre by one metre pond, 30 centimetres deep, can bury around 142g of carbon a year.
However, if ponds are not managed well, they can release the carbon they store as they dry out, along with methane, a more potent greenhouse gas.
Again, the answer is to restore habitats around ponds. While ponds are wet, plants such as knapwort and flowing sweetgrass can help them act as carbon sinks.
With this in mind, the Wychwood Forest Trust plans to introduce ponds at Foxburrow Wood in Witney.
Woodland restoration is another critical step we must take to combat climate change.
When managed well, broadleaved (ie non-conifer) woodlands store more carbon dioxide than any other habitat.
Friends of the Earth estimates that doubling the UK’s tree cover could lock away up to 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, 10 per cent of our annual emissions.
But tree planting needs to be done with care. It is vital that the ‘right tree’ is planted in the ‘right place’, as planting non-native species or putting trees in inappropriate places can do more harm than good.
Another important factor is looking after the trees we already have, especially those that are ancient.
Ancient trees make up just 25 per cent of our tree cover, but store 36 per cent of the carbon locked in UK trees, as well as providing unique habitats for a variety of wildlife.
Sadly, the Woodland Trust estimates that more than 1,225 ancient woods across the UK are under threat from development, and that 981 ancient woods have been permanently lost or damaged in the last 20 years.
We must protect these ancient habitats if we are serious about combatting climate change.
By restoring habitats, we can help nature thrive, combat climate change and pass on a better world to future generations.
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