Teal Carbon: India's First Study On Carbon Storage In Freshwater Wetlands

• India has initiated its first study on 'Teal Carbon' at the Keoladeo National Park (KNP) in Rajasthan, marking a crucial step towards understanding the role of non-tidal freshwater wetlands in climate mitigation. 
• This move aligns with India’s growing focus on sustainable ecosystems and carbon accounting under international climate commitments.

What is Teal Carbon?

• Teal Carbon refers to the carbon stored in non-tidal freshwater wetlands, such as lakes, marshes, ponds, and inland swamps. 
• It includes carbon sequestered in:
  • Vegetation (aquatic and semi-aquatic plants),
  • Microbial biomass,
  • Dissolved organic matter,
  • Particulate organic matter in wetland soils and water bodies.
• Unlike "Blue Carbon," which focuses on tidal coastal ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes, Teal Carbon addresses the carbon cycle in inland freshwater ecosystems—a relatively underexplored domain in carbon science.

Why is Teal Carbon Important?

• Climate Change Mitigation: Freshwater wetlands have a high potential to sequester carbon for long periods due to slow decomposition in water-saturated soils.
• Ecosystem Services: These wetlands regulate water flow, recharge groundwater, support biodiversity, and provide livelihoods to local communities.
• Policy Relevance: Including Teal Carbon in national carbon inventories can strengthen India’s position in global climate negotiations and carbon credit mechanisms.

Other Types of Carbon (Colour Classification)

• The term "Teal" is part of a colour-based system used to describe different types of carbon based on source or function:

Significance of the Study at Keoladeo National Park

• Biodiversity Hotspot: KNP is a Ramsar site and UNESCO World Heritage site, home to hundreds of bird species and freshwater ecosystems.
• Research Objective: To quantify the carbon sequestration potential of freshwater wetland vegetation, sediment, and microbial activity.
• Carbon Budgeting: The study may help establish protocols for carbon offset programs related to inland wetland conservation.

Challenges and Way Forward

• Data Deficiency: There is limited empirical data on carbon sequestration in freshwater ecosystems in India.
• Methane Emissions: Wetlands can also emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, which needs to be accounted for.
• Policy Integration: Future strategies must integrate Teal Carbon into carbon trading schemes, climate adaptation plans, and ecosystem restoration projects.

Related International Frameworks

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971)

• An international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
• Promotes the “wise use” of wetlands through national action and international cooperation.
• Defines wetlands broadly, including marshes, peatlands, and even man-made sites like reservoirs.
• India is a signatory, and currently has 75 Ramsar sites, the highest in Asia (as of 2024).

IPCC Wetlands Supplement (2013)

• A supplementary guideline to the IPCC 2006 GHG Inventory Guidelines.
• Provides methodologies for estimating greenhouse gas emissions and removals from wetlands.
• Covers land-use categories such as peatlands, flooded lands, and mangroves, and is relevant for national climate reporting under the UNFCCC.
• Encourages countries to integrate wetland-related carbon fluxes into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030)

• A global initiative declared by the United Nations General Assembly.
• Aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems including wetlands, forests, grasslands, and marine areas.
• Calls for restoration of 350 million hectares of degraded ecosystems, contributing to climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and water security.
• Aligns with goals of the Paris Agreement, Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and SDGs, especially SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Next Steps and Recommendations

Develop a Teal Carbon Framework under the National Wetland Conservation Programme

• Create a standardized national accounting and monitoring system for Teal Carbon.
• Define methodologies for carbon stock estimation in freshwater inland wetlands.
• Establish pilot projects in protected areas and Ramsar sites for scalable models.

Integrate Teal Carbon into State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs)

• Recognize non-tidal freshwater wetlands as climate mitigation assets in SAPCCs.
• Allocate climate finance for wetland carbon sequestration and ecosystem service valuation.
• Build capacity among state wetland authorities for carbon mapping and management.

Promote Wetland Restoration under Existing Schemes

• Utilize schemes like:
  • MGNREGA: For desilting, bunding, and water retention works in wetland areas.
  • CAMPA: For compensatory afforestation that includes wetland-linked landscapes.
  • Namami Gange: For rejuvenation of wetland systems along the Ganga basin.
• Align Teal Carbon objectives with Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate resilience.

Encourage Community-Based Wetland Management

• Incentivize local communities to participate in wetland stewardship, with livelihood linkages.
• Promote carbon credit models or payment for ecosystem services (PES) linked to Teal Carbon.
• Engage women and marginalized groups in wetland governance and monitoring.