Virginia’s peatland restoration is turning the Great Dismal Swamp back into a vital carbon sink.
Virginia’s Great Dismal Swamp, once a thriving wetland, is now being revived as an essential carbon sink to help combat climate change. Peatlands, like those in the swamp, cover only 3% of the Earth’s surface but store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined. By restoring these unique ecosystems, researchers and conservationists aim to reverse centuries of damage caused by human activity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Peat is a spongy layer of partially decomposed plant material found in waterlogged, acidic environments like the Great Dismal Swamp. This natural carbon storage system has been severely degraded over time. Starting in the 1760s, efforts to drain the swamp for agriculture and timber led to the exposure of peat, which then decayed, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Fires sparked by the drying peat have further worsened the problem, making the swamp a net emitter of carbon rather than a sink.
George Washington led early efforts to drain the swamp using enslaved labor. Later, logging companies expanded the destruction, creating a network of ditches to dry the land for tree harvesting. These activities not only devastated the swamp’s unique ecosystem but also turned it into a significant carbon source.
Recent research shows the swamp has emitted approximately 183 teragrams of carbon dioxide since the late 1700s. To put that in perspective, this is equivalent to the emissions from 42 million gas-powered cars in a single year.
Since 2012, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy have been rewetting parts of the swamp to protect and rebuild its peat layers. This involves constructing dams and plugging drainage ditches to retain water, which slows peat decay and allows new organic material to accumulate.
Restoration efforts have already rehydrated 60,000 acres of the swamp. Over the next few years, The Nature Conservancy plans to restore an additional 33,000 acres and protect 10,500 acres in Virginia and North Carolina. These projects are funded by over $200 million from the Inflation Reduction Act.
The impact of Virginia’s peatlands could be significant: restoring these peatlands could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of removing between 57,120 and 1.4 million cars from the road each year.
Conservationists have also developed tools to encourage private landowners to participate in peatland restoration. For example, a new calculator estimates the carbon sequestration potential of rewetting drained peatlands. Landowners can use this data to sell carbon credits—units representing reductions in greenhouse gas emissions—in voluntary carbon markets.
This financial incentive helps cover the costs of restoration and maintenance, making it more feasible for private landowners to contribute to the effort. The carbon credits provide a direct way for landowners to profit from the environmental work they do, making the initiative financially viable for many.
Peatland restoration in the Great Dismal Swamp is not only essential for carbon storage but also crucial for local wildlife. Wetlands like the swamp are home to a diverse range of species, many of which are adapted to the unique, waterlogged environment. By rewetting the land, the swamp is being restored to its natural state, providing habitats for water-loving plants and animals like orchids, swamp magnolias, and various amphibians and birds.
Restoring these ecosystems ensures that local wildlife can thrive once again. Some species, such as frogs, have already begun to return to areas previously scorched by fire, showing that life is returning to the swamp.
Virginia’s peatland restoration offers more than just environmental benefits. The efforts are helping to reduce the risk of wildfires, which have been a significant threat in recent years due to the swamp’s dry conditions. By preventing wildfires and reducing carbon emissions, the project is also improving air quality, which directly benefits local communities.
Additionally, the restoration work creates jobs in the region, offering employment opportunities in construction, ecology, and environmental management. As restoration projects expand, more jobs will likely be created, contributing to local economies.
Scientific research guides much of the restoration work. Studies show that certain tree species, like Atlantic white cedar, store more carbon than others. By prioritizing these species, restoration projects can maximize the swamp’s carbon storage potential.
Hydrologist Fred Wurster, who has worked in the swamp for over a decade, has helped design water control systems to restore its natural hydrology. These systems raise groundwater levels, particularly in areas where peat has dried and compacted, creating the right conditions for water-loving plants and trees to thrive again.
Restoring Virginia’s peatlands benefits more than just the environment. It reduces wildfire risks, supports local biodiversity, and creates opportunities for landowners to generate income through carbon markets. For residents and businesses, it means cleaner air, healthier ecosystems, and a stronger defense against climate change.
By protecting and revitalizing the Great Dismal Swamp, Virginia is taking meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future.
