Evaluation of the implementation of a goal-oriented peatland rehabilitation plan

Abstract

Ecological restoration is a problem-driven scientific discipline. Thus an evaluation of the restoration strategies is needed periodically to improve the concepts. In Northern Germany, the Environmental Ministry adopted a peatland action plan in 2002 with the goal to (I) rehabilitate the water quality improvement potential of degraded peatlands and (II) to create suitable habitat conditions for endangered wetland species. The plan is implemented in a series of stages. The goals are clearly stated in the plan. For state-wide site selection, a GIS-based peatland information system was developed. For each peatland, information about land use, hydrology, conservation status, species occurrence and soil is stored in the database. Peatland sites with a high risk for nitrogen leaching are identified by calculating a land use intensity index. A flow path-oriented decision support system was developed to calculate the effect of land use and water management changes on nitrogen outflow and nitrogen transformation. The model result – absolute reduction of nitrogen outflow – is transformed into a cost-effectiveness value, which is used by water authorities to rank funding proposals. The DSS is developed as user-friendly, web-based software; its handling requires basic knowledge of landscape hydrology. However, local authorities do not use both tools intensively. For them, the most important factor for site selection is the possibility of land acquisition. To improve goal-oriented site selection and planning, local authorities need more training and a better hydrological understanding. To improve the effectiveness of ecological restoration projects, training and capacity building are as important as tool development and research.