Hands-On Approach to Foster Paludiculture Implementation and Carbon Certification on Extracted Peatland in Latvia

Abstract

Voluntary carbon markets open horizons for private companies, public institutions, and individuals developing CO2 removal projects in peatlands to reduce overall carbon footprint. These steps, however, should be in line with appropriate rewetting targets. Therefore, the baseline information about the status of the area must be assessed. Here, we follow the methodology set by the carbon certification program standards, which define the necessary steps for reference conditions assessment. In this study, we practically test the fulfillment of necessary drained peatland baseline evaluation for paludiculture and carbon certification activities. Estimates on the greenhouse gas emission mitigation potential were summarized to define priorities and propose quantifiable measures with suggested paludiculture implementation. Our estimations indicate that rewetting and paludiculture practice on 16.4 ha drained extracted peatland could omit 60.17 t CO2 annual emissions and instead capture 80.31–120.11 t CO2 per year. If drainage continues, then it poses a risk of releasing stored carbon from leftover peat deposits into the atmosphere, contributing 52,653.64 t CO2 to greenhouse gas emissions. Our hands-on approach shows that it is possible for companies to implement rewetting strategies without large EU-level project funding when the conservation and economic aspects are met, thus boosting climate mitigation actions.