Takeaways

• The Florida Everglades remains a powerful carbon sink, capturing 13.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually.
• Mangroves outperform freshwater marshes in net carbon capture, as methane emissions offset far less of their gains.
• Scientists say smarter water management can help maximize climate benefits while supporting restoration.

The Florida Everglades plays a complex role in the fight against climate change. Spanning 1.5 million acres, the vast wetland system removes an average of 13.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. But it also releases methane, a greenhouse gas that traps more than 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide over 20 years.

A new study by scientists at the Yale School of the Environment examines these greenhouse gas fluxes in greater detail. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the research offers fresh insight into how water management and restoration efforts could strengthen carbon capture across the Everglades.

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Mangroves Lead in Carbon Capture

The study found that between 2003 and 2020, overall carbon capture in the Everglades increased by 18%. Saltwater mangroves showed the strongest performance. In these areas, only about 16% of the carbon dioxide captured was offset by methane emissions.

Freshwater marshes told a different story. While they also capture carbon dioxide, nearly 82% of that benefit was offset by methane emissions. Methane accounts for roughly 30% of global warming since industrialization, making its release an important factor in climate calculations.

Still, researchers stress that freshwater marshes remain critical. They support flood control, water filtration, wildlife habitat, and long-term carbon storage.

“Wetlands must be understood as integrated systems,” said Sparkle Malone, assistant professor of ecosystem carbon capture and co-author of the study. She noted that while different wetland types behave differently, the Everglades continues to function as a major carbon sink.

Blue and Teal Carbon Ecosystems

The research examined both blue carbon ecosystems, coastal saline mangroves and marshes, and teal carbon ecosystems, which include non-tidal freshwater marshes and forests.

Scientists combined multiple data sources to understand carbon exchange rates. They used long-term measurements from the Coastal Everglades Ameriflux towers located in the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. They also reviewed atmospheric carbon data collected by NASA aircraft between 2022 and 2024, along with satellite data tracking vegetation changes.

By combining tower, flight, and satellite information, the team built a model to estimate shifts in wetland restoration and carbon exchange patterns over time.

A Roadmap for Climate-Driven Water Management

The findings point to one clear message: Managing water levels carefully could enhance the Everglades’ climate benefits. Protecting mangroves from hydrologic disruption and storm damage can help preserve one of the planet’s most effective natural carbon sinks.

Peter Raymond, co-director of the Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture, said broad collaboration between government agencies and academics is key to understanding such complex ecosystems.

Researchers also emphasized that carbon dioxide and methane cannot be viewed separately. Instead, land managers must consider the balance between the two gases when designing restoration projects.

By identifying conditions where water management improves carbon storage while limiting methane release, policymakers can better support both climate resilience and ecosystem health.

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The study ultimately reframes the Everglades not as a climate contradiction, but as an opportunity. With informed restoration and smarter hydrologic control, one of the world’s most iconic wetlands could further strengthen its role in slowing climate change.

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Source: PHYS ORG