26 Nov Saggas will offset part of its carbon footprint in the Marjal dels Moros

Saggas has been one of the first three companies to join the pre-sale of carbon credits from the CO₂ emissions reduction project in the Marjal dels Moros. The initiative is part of the European LIFE Wetlands4Climate project, coordinated by the Global Nature foundation, which aims to harness the carbon sink potential of wetlands while improving the biodiversity and resilience of these ecosystems.

The management and restoration project in the Marjal dels Moros will begin in 2025 and will last for 10 years, during which vegetation management and soil restoration actions will be carried out over an area of 75 hectares. These actions are expected to mitigate a total of 1,517.79 tons of CO₂ equivalent over the 10-year duration of the project. With the signing of this agreement, Saggas acquires around 20 tons of CO₂ equivalent emissions.

A pioneering project

The project developed in the Marjal dels Moros will serve as a pilot, as it will be used to apply, measure, and verify the results of the scientific research conducted under the LIFE Wetlands4Climate project. The main planned actions in the natural park are based on soil and vegetation management.

To achieve this, mowing will be carried out with an amphibious machine in flooded areas and with a tractor in dry reedbed zones. The removal of plant biomass through mechanical methods is a tool that helps increase the net production of plants, one of the main drivers of carbon retention in the global balance of wetlands. Additionally, soil management will include plowing to oxygenate the top layer of sediment, which will reduce emissions of methane and other greenhouse gases, as well as stripping. The stripping of excess organic matter and decomposing vegetation accumulated over decades will reduce the organic carbon load in the sediment, which is prone to degradation under certain conditions, leading to methane release into the atmosphere. These actions will generate by-products, such as plant residues from mowing, which will be reused as fodder or bedding for livestock, and soil with organic matter that will be used as an amendment for agricultural land.

To monitor, track, and certify the climate mitigation achieved during the project, the team from the Cavanilles Institute at the University of Valencia is collaborating. This team will take annual on-site measurements to scientifically certify that the estimated avoided emissions are being met. Every five years, depending on the final approved methodology standard, the carbon credits or tons of CO₂ equivalent mitigated will be verified. In addition, the Regional Ministry of Environment, Water, Infrastructure and Territory will advise on the proper implementation of the restoration actions.