New study identifies several surprising benefits of moss
This may inspire you to look at moss in a whole new way.
Moss in your garden?
Some people see that as a problem -- but a new study reveals these plants boost the environment.
In fact, in a recent study, researchers say they were "gobsmacked" to discover the many benefits of moss.
And it isn't just good for our green spaces - scientists say moss is vital for the health of the entire planet.
The study, led by Dr. David Eldridge of the University of New South Wales, a team of 50 researchers to analyzed soils from more than 123 ecosystems worldwide and found moss covering 9.4 million km2 in those environments - an area roughly the size of Canada.
Numerous benefits were identified. It was found to protect against erosion, speed up decomposition, and ward off pathogens that are harmful to humans and animals.
It also sucks up vast amounts of carbon - estimating it supports the storage of 6.43 billion tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere when compared to soils without moss.
“So you’ve got all the global emissions from land use change, such as grazing, clearing vegetation, and activities associated with agriculture – we think mosses are sucking up six times more carbon dioxide, so it’s not one to one, it’s six times better,” Dr. Eldridge says in a statement.
The researchers went so far as to call moss the "lifeblood" of plant ecosystems, outlining 24 ways it helps soil and neighbouring plants.
So the next time you see moss growing in your garden, leave it be. You'll be doing all of us a favour.
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Thumbnail image via Canva Pro.
