In Belhaven, North Carolina, what has drawn scientists and investors to this area is what lies underground: spongy, dense peat up to 15 feet (5 meters) deep. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
It’s an idyllic setting in North Carolina’s Inner Banks, where fields of cotton, soybeans and corn stretch for miles, country roads wend through stands of pines and thousands of bird watchers converge to witness the spring migration. But it’s what’s underground that has drawn scientists and investors to this 23-square-mile (60-square-kilometer) tract.
They’re here to save it.
Peatlands are important carbon-storing ecosystems. When they dry out, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Therefore, restoring this area is important both for nature conservation and for the climate.
According to Associated Press, Neal Flanagan, a research scientist at Duke University, and Curt Richardson, an ecology professor at Duke, used a tool to take a soil sample from a peatland on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Belhaven, N.C. The work is aimed at assessing the condition of the peatland.
Experts say restoring peatlands is a long-term process. It requires restoring water regimes, protecting vegetation cover and working together with the local community.
This initiative demonstrates the importance of preserving natural ecosystems in the fight against climate change. Peatlands can store carbon for a long time, so protecting them contributes to climate stability.