PermaC says insulating blanket halted erosion in first permafrost test

Canadian startup PermaC says its first field test of an insulating blanket stopped measurable erosion at a thawing permafrost site in Canada's Northwest Territories. Co-founder Cansu Culha told Nature that an untreated edge retreated by 5 metres over the Arctic summer, while the blanketed area showed no measurable retreat. The blanket combines wood shavings, soil, native seeds and a coconut-husk mat to stabilize soil exposed by collapsing permafrost. The company has yet to release its results, and the finding covers one site over one summer. PermaC is developing a method for third parties to verify prevented emissions before selling carbon credits. Calculating how much carbon dioxide the blankets prevent remains unresolved.