Canadian start-up tests wood-based blankets to stop Arctic permafrost carbon release

A Canadian start-up firm is testing a new method to stop greenhouse gases from escaping thawing Arctic soil by covering damaged ground with woody mats. The company, called PermaC, recently finished its first field trial in Canada's Northwest Territories at a site where the ground had collapsed and eroded rapidly.

The Method and First Test

When hills of frozen earth thaw and sink, they form deep holes that release trapped carbon dioxide and methane. To slow this damage, researchers laid down a mixture of wood shavings, local dirt, seeds, and a coconut husk mat along the edges of the collapsing ground. Natural-hazards researcher Cansu Culha notes that the inspiration came from Indigenous communities in Alaska that plant trees near damaged slopes. During the Arctic summer, the covered edge showed no measurable movement, while the unprotected edge retreated by five metres.

Challenges and Goals

Independent experts view the initial outcome as encouraging while pointing out that more testing is needed across different sites. Measuring the exact amount of carbon saved remains difficult because emissions depend heavily on soil makeup and landscape shape. The firm hopes to cover 20,000 erosion sites across Alaska and Canada over the coming decade. Organisers also plan to create a verification system so companies can buy carbon offsets from the project starting next year.

Context

Permafrost covers large portions of northern regions and holds vast amounts of ancient organic matter that release gases as global temperatures rise. While cutting fossil fuel emissions remains the primary global goal, scientists are increasingly studying local geoengineering tools to protect vulnerable ecosystems.