Water and Carbon Case Studies

The Amazon River Exe

The Amazon Context

World’s largest rainforest
5.5 million km2
1 million plant species

Stores 1/5 of world’s carbon biomass
Stores 1-3 GT carbon per year

Holds 16% of global freshwater
70% of water kept in a ‘closed system’
½ of water intercepted
Recieves water vapour from the Atlantic Ocean

The Amazon Threats

20,000km2 deforested per year (75% due to cattle ranching)
Deforestation releases 30-60% of stored carbon
Brazil is the 6th largest emitter in the world
3 degrees celsius rise will kill 75% of vegetation
Grassland absorbs ½ the carbon that forest do

The Amazon National Management

Placing indigenous protection on forests- reduces emissions 10x
Plans to replant 3.2 million hectares
Plans to protect ½ of the rainforest
Soy and Beef Moratorium- now only 0.25% farmed on deforested land

The Amazon International Management

REDD+ and Norway pledged $1 billion (The Amazon Fund)
2008 Zero Deforestation Campaign
2015 Paris Climate Agreement

The River Exe Context

Flashy Regime
84% impermeable ground
57% grassland (pastoral farming)
Devonian limestone
Low-lying vegetation
Steep topography
Nearby cities of Exmour/ Exmouth/ Tiverton
11,000 properties at risk

The River Exe Threats

Drainage ditchces dug post-WW2 to encourage farming (flashier regime)
Farming- soil erosion and compacted soil
Urbanisation
Peat disturbed- releases carbon

The River Exe Management

Wimbleball reservoir- provides water for 120,000
The Exmoor Mires Project (£2.2 million)- filled in drainage ditches, planted spraghum moss- raised water table by 2.2cm