Cutaway Peatlands Research Articles

Climatic sensitivity of the CO2 flux in a cutaway boreal peatland cultivated with a perennial bioenergy crop (Phalaris arundinaceae, L.): Beyond diplotelmic modeling

In this study, a process-based model (RCG-C) was developed, parameterized and calibrated for studying the annual and seasonal dynamics of the ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) in a cutaway peatland (Linnansuo, eastern Finland) cultivated with a perennial bioenergy crop (Phalaris arundinaceae, L., RCG). Based on a number of prior studies and an environmentally controlled experiment, RCG-C emphasized several key processes beyond the generality of previous diplotelmic models for pristine peatlands. These processes included the effects of management (e.g., drainage, peat extraction, tilling, harvesting and fertilization) on the soil hydrology and the cycling of carbon and nitrogen, the influence of climatic factors on photosynthesis and the phenological cycle and phenological and soil-moisture controls on biomass production and canopy development. The model was validated based on continuous measurements of meteorological parameters, energy and CO2 fluxes (eddy covariance system) performed at the site from 2005 to 2010, including variation associated with both wet and dry years. The results showed that the model captured the seasonal and annual trends of the latent heat flux and NEE during the six-year period. Moreover, the simulated values for the total C sink capacity, accumulation of rhizome biomass and peat formation from RCG obtained during the six-year period also agreed well with the field measurements. Based on the FINADAPT climate scenarios, a sensitivity analysis of the model showed that the potential increases in the atmospheric CO2 concentration (Ca) and air temperature (Ta) could be the main forces driving the changes in NEE. The model simulation suggested that the effects of Ta tend to offset those of Ca and lead to a decrease in the total C sink capacity of the site during the main rotation period (4–15th year of cultivation). This decrease tends to become more intensive toward the end of the 21st century. During the period from 2060 to 2099, the total CO2 sink capacity could decrease by 79% during the main rotation period at the Linnansuo site.

Object oriented classification of disturbance on raised bogs in the Irish Midlands using medium- and high-resolution satellite imagery

Raised bogs in the Irish Midlands are spatially extensive and disturbed. Peatland disturbance is relatively easy to identify on the ground, but it is difficult to quantify and more difficult to systematise a method of isolating where disturbance has occurred. The extent of raised bogs was delineated from the Derived Irish Peat Map version 2. An object-oriented approach was used to produce maps of disturbance type from medium- (IRS) and high-resolution (Geoeye-1 and Ikonos) imagery. The main disturbance types identified were conversion to pasture, afforestation, draining, cutover and cutaway peatlands. The medium resolution imagery was useful for examining peatland disturbance over large areas, but there was added value in developing maps using high resolution imagery. The overall accuracy assessment for the disturbance maps was between 62% and 90%. This method allows for the extent and severity of disturbance to be identified, which is a critical issue for quantification and security of the peatland carbon stock. The method was applied in Ireland’s raised bogs but could be applied to peatland areas anywhere in the world.

The growth and nutrients status of conifers on ash-treated cutaway peatland

Key message Use of wood ash or a mixture of wood and oil shale ashes increases the concentrations of P and K in the assimilation organs of conifers and stimulates tree growth.

High sensitivity of peat moisture content to seasonal climate in a cutaway peatland cultivated with a perennial crop (Phalaris arundinaceae, L.): A modeling study

In this study, a process-based model was developed for studying the climatic sensitivity of the soil moisture content (θ) in a cutaway peatland cultivated with a perennial crop (Phalaris arundinaceae, L., RCG). The model was parameterized based on the canopy development and the soil properties measured in Linnansuo peatland in Eastern Finland. The model was also calibrated and validated by continuous measurements of meteorology, soil temperature, soil moisture and energy fluxes (eddy covariance system) during a wet year (2009) and a dry year (2010). The results showed that the model captured well the seasonal trend of the latent heat flux during the two-year period. Moreover, the model explained the major seasonal variations of the moisture content in multiple peat layers in the soil profile. Sensitivity analysis of the model showed that the fluctuation of the water table (WT) had little impact on the seasonal dynamics of the peat moisture content in the Linnansuo site. These results indicated that anthropological disturbances, such as peat extraction, drainage and energy crop cultivation, critically weakened the θ–WT interaction in the Linnansuo peatland. Moreover, these changes indicated the high climatic sensitivity of the peat moisture content especially to the variations of the seasonal pattern of precipitation.

Effect of wood ash on the biomass production and nutrient status of young silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) trees on cutaway peatlands in Estonia

The objective of the study was to quantify the effect of wood ash on the growth and nutrition of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) on cutaway peatlands in Estonia. Two experimental areas were established: the Ulila experimental area (South Estonia) with treatments of 5 and 10tha−1 wood ash and control (unfertilised plot) in 2009 and the Puhatu experimental area (Northeast Estonia) with treatments of 10 and 15tha−1 wood ash and control in 2011. The best results were achieved with the wood ash dose of 10tha−1 on the Ulila area and with 15tha−1 on the Puhatu area, which means that the largest amounts of wood ash applied were the most favourable for the growth of young birches. Fertilisation with wood ash improved the balance of nutrients on the Ulila and Puhatu experimental area: the concentration of extractable P, K, Ca and Mg in the ash-treated peat had significantly increased. Already after the first growing season the annual height increment of trees on the ash-fertilised plots was greater (0.5–0.6m), than control (3–7cm) on both experimental areas, during the next two years more than 1m on the Ulila ash-treated experimental area. The mean root collar diameter of birches on the plot treated with 10tha−1 ash was 3.3cm on the Ulila experimental area and 1.9cm on the Puhatu experimental area. In the second year after fertilisation the mean tree biomass was 167.2g on the treated with 10tha−1 plot while on the control plot the mean tree biomass was only 1.4g on the Ulila area; in the fourth year the respective biomasses were 961.0g and 6.3g on the Ulila experimental area. On the Puhatu experimental area the mean tree biomass was 216.9g on the plot treated with 15tha−1 and 9.6g on the control plot in the second year. In the second year the mean annual biomass increment on the treated with 10tha−1 at Ulila was 136gyear−1, and almost the same results were obtained on the Puhatu experimental area with 15tha−1 wood ash treatment. On the Ulila experimental area the root mass ratio was higher on the control than on the ash-fertilised plots, but on the Puhatu experimental area the root mass ratio did not statistically differ between the treatments. On the plots treated with higher amount of wood ash a significant increase in the concentration of elements dominating in wood ash (P, K, Ca) was observed in assimilating organs.

Climatic sensitivity of hydrology and carbon exchanges in boreal peatland ecosystems, with implications on sustainable management of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea, L.) on cutaway peatlands

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of climate change on soil hydrology and carbon (C) fluxes in boreal peatland ecosystems, with implications for the feasibility of cultivating reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea, L; RCG) as a way to restore the C sink in cutaway peatlands under Finnish conditions. First, hydrological models were developed for pristine peatland ecosystems and the cutaway peatlands under RCG cultivation. Concurrently, the hydrological responses to varying climatic forcing and mire types were investigated for these ecosystems. Thereafter, process-based models for estimating the seasonal and annual C exchanges were developed for the pristine mires and cutaway peatlands. The C models incorporated the hydrological models for corresponding ecosystems. Model simulations based on the climate scenarios (ACCLIM, developed by the Finnish Meteorological Institute, FMI) were further carried out to study the impacts of climate change on the C exchanges in the peatland ecosystems during the 21st century. The simulation showed that the water table (WT) in the pristine Finnish mires would draw down slightly during the 21st century. Such a change in WT would be related to a decrease in the CO2 sink but an increase in the CH4 source at the country scale, as driven mainly by the rising temperature (Ta) and increasing precipitation (P). These changes in CO2 / CH4 fluxes would decrease the total C-greenhouse gas (GHG) sink (CO2 equilibrium) by 68% at the country scale, and the changes would be more pronounced toward the end of the century. The majority of pristine fens in southern and western Finland and the pristine bogs near the coastal areas would become centurial CO2 sources under the changing climate. On the other hand, the major distribution of fens in northern Finland would act to increase the CH4 source at the country scale, whereas the CH4 emission would tend to decrease with WT in the southern and western areas of Finland. Peat extraction and RCG cultivation tends to limit the influence of WT on the root-zone moisture content in a peatland ecosystem, resulting in a high sensitivity of soil moisture content to the regularity of summer rainfall. However, the phenological cycle of RCG may represent an adaptive feature of photosynthesis to the stochasticity of summer precipitation. By the end of the 21st century, climate change will decrease the CO2 sequestration by 63% 87% in a cutaway RCG peatland during a main rotation period of 12 years. Nevertheless, the site could sustain a net CO2 sink, which is comparable to the pristine peatlands in the same region.

Seasonal dynamics and composition of cladoceran and copepod assemblages in ponds of a Hungarian cutaway peatland

AbstractSeasonal dynamics of cladoceran and copepod zooplankton were studied over a one‐year period in five permanent ponds of a cutaway peatland, situated in the Danube−Tisza Interfluve, Central Hungary. 17 cladoceran, 11 cyclopoid copepod and 6 harpacticoid copepod species were identified and most of them were typical of small lowland ponds. Nevertheless, some taxa like Cyclops insignis, Ceriodaphnia setosa and Macrocyclops distinctus are considered to be rare in Hungary. The microcrustacean assemblages exhibited apparent seasonal succession with typical seasonal species. There appears to be at least two main successional patterns in the five ponds. After general cyclopoid copepod dominance in winter (Cyclops strenuus and Cyclops insignis), at sites with higher proportion of open water and submerged vegetation, spring was characterized by the dominance of the large cladoceran Daphnia curvirostris, which declined during summer, when microcrustacean assemblages composed mainly of smaller, littoral cladocerans. At these sites, species richness and diversity reached their maximum in autumn. In the case of duckweed covered ponds, succession led to less diverse autumn assemblages with fewer species, dominated by Simocephalus exspinosus. Our results draw the attention to the importance of long‐term investigations and the often neglected winter sampling in the accurate evaluation of species richness (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Biomass and nutrition of naturally regenerated and coppiced birch on cutaway peatland during 37 years

Biomass production and nutrient use of birch thickets with a mixture of willow on a cut away peatland in southern Finland over a period of 37 years was studied. Dense, naturally regenerated 16-year-old birch stands were cut down, fertilized with either wood ash (P 108 and K 339 kg ha) or PK fertilizer (P 50 and K 95 kg ha) or left unfertilized. The biomass production of the coppiced stands and one uncut stand was monitored for a period of 21 years. Soil nutrient and foliar nutrient concentrations were analyzed several times during the study period. Ash fertilization supplied more nutrients than PK fertilization and increased the soil nutrient amounts more. The foliar phosphorus concentration of birch on control plots indicated a severe phosphorus deficiency which was removed by PK and ash fertilization. Fertilization did not increase nutrient concentrations of the stem (wood + bark) nor the amount of nutrients bound in the biomass. Two energy wood rotations (16+21 years) produced 124–158 Mg ha of leafless, above-ground biomass altogether corresponding to 61–78 Mg ha of carbon. The highest biomass yield was achieved with a rotation of 37 years in the uncut stand (211 Mg ha). Corresponding values for mean annual increment (MAI) were 3.4–4.3 Mg ha and 5.7 Mg ha. This study shows that the length of the rotation for birch in energy wood production should be longer than 21 years. PK and ash fertilization increased the biomass of coppiced 21-year-old birch by 23 Mg ha and 33 Mg ha, respectively.–1–1–1–1–1–1–1–1–1

Phytoplankton assemblages in four wetlands created on cutaway peatlands in Ireland

The deliberate flooding of cutaway peatlands has resulted in the creation of 3700ha of new wetlands in the Irish Midlands. None of Ireland's cutaway wetlands have been designated as artificial water bodies for the purposes of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) (WFD). Nevertheless, ensuring that the created wetlands do not adversely affect downstream water quality or the potential of neighbouring designated rivers to achieve their environmental objectives under the WFD is of primary concern to environmental managers and regulators. Phytoplankton communities in four created wetlands were monitored over a 33-month period. The study aimed to assess whether phytoplankton communities in the created wetlands have the potential to be reliable indicators of chemical water quality. Longer term changes in the phytoplankton communities in two of the wetlands were also assessed. Indicator species analysis identified the presence of a number of algal species regarded as reliable indicators of eutrophic and mesotrophic water quality. Longer term trends indicated that the created wetlands have a propensity to develop phytoplankton blooms in the early years following flooding, in response to high ambient phosphorus concentrations. The data indicate a trend of improving water quality as the created wetlands mature and stabilise. Heather Lally (corresponding author; e-mail: heatherlally@gmail. com) and Mike

Evaluating Different Wetland Creation Approaches for Irish Cutaway Peatlands Using Water Chemical Analysis

By 2030, 75,000 ha of raised bog owned by Ireland’s largest peat producer, Bord na Mona, are expected to be exhausted. In an effort to rehabilitate Irish cutaway peatlands to maximise their conservation value, large areas have been converted to wetlands using three alternative approaches: total peat removal (TPR), partial peat removal (PPR), and simple rewetting (SR). This paper assesses the success, to date, of the three wetland creation approaches using hydrochemistry as a measure of restoration success and identifies the key variables influencing hydrochemistry in the created wetlands. Chemical analysis suggests major differences between the TPR and SR wetlands while the PPR wetlands exhibited intermediate characteristics. Additionally, principal component analysis highlighted nitrite, conductivity, turbidity, chlorophyll-a, colour, and soluble reactive phosphorus as important hydrochemical factors determining differences among the three wetland creation approaches. This research shows that wetlands underlain by peaty substrates (PPR and SR) may take longer than 10 years to stabilise hydrochemically compared to those wetlands underlain by solely alkaline sediments (TPR) which stabilise quickly. Although wetland ecosystem development may be slower in the PPR and SR wetlands they hold the greatest potential to develop peat forming habitats. Wetland creation represents a viable and valuable post-harvesting land-uses option for cutaway peatlands.

Ground vegetation has a major role in element dynamics in an ash-fertilized cut-away peatland

In Finland, recycling of wood-ash as a fertilizer has been widely studied in recent decades in peatlands drained for forestry. Wood-ash is reported to promote tree growth without any significant negative impacts on the environment and could, therefore, be a suitable option on cut-away peatlands, which are estimated to increase by 30,000 ha over the next ten years. However, the environmental effects of ash-fertilization on cut-away peatlands or on ground vegetation are not well known. We studied the effects of wood- and peat-ash application on the nutrient content in soil and plants and on the heavy metal content in the vegetation of a cut-away peatland. Six treatments of different quantities and mixtures of wood-ash, peat-ash, biotite, or Forest PK-fertilizer were replicated in three plots. Both wood- and peat-ash fertilization ensured an adequate level of nutrients for the early establishment and growth of ground vegetation and birch seedlings in a cut-away peatland. Dense pioneer moss cover was important in trapping the heavy metals, such as cadmium, which are present in the ash. Ground vegetation of mosses and herbaceous plants also had a major role in the retention of the nutrients that could otherwise have leached from the open cut-away peatland area during the early stages of afforestation. Both wood- and peat-ash proved to be suitable for the initial fertilization of afforested cut-away peatlands, but in order to guarantee a sufficient long-term potassium supply for tree growth, an application of biotite with the peat-ash is recommended.

Object oriented classification of disturbance on raised bogs in the Irish Midlands using medium- and high-resolution satellite imagery

Raised bogs in the Irish Midlands are spatially extensive and disturbed. Peatland disturbance is relatively easy to identify on the ground, but it is difficult to quantify and more difficult to systematise a method of isolating where disturbance has occurred. The extent of raised bogs was delineated from the Derived Irish Peat Map version 2. An object-oriented approach was used to produce maps of disturbance type from medium- (IRS) and high-resolution (Geoeye-1 and Ikonos) imagery. The main disturbance types identified were conversion to pasture, afforestation, draining, cutover and cutaway peatlands. The medium resolution imagery was useful for examining peatland disturbance over large areas, but there was added value in developing maps using high resolution imagery. The overall accuracy assessment for the disturbance maps was between 62% and 90%. This method allows for the extent and severity of disturbance to be identified, which is a critical issue for quantification and security of the peatland carbon stock. The method was applied in Ireland’s raised bogs but could be applied to peatland areas anywhere in the world.

Water quality in cutaway peatland lakes in Seda mire, Latvia

Water quality in cutaway peatland lakes in Seda mire, Latvia Transformation into shallow lakes can be a major post-harvesting land-use option for cutaway peatlands. The aim of our study was to analyse factors influencing water quality and communities on lakes created in a cutaway bog in the Seda Mire, Latvia. The residual peat amount and the lake feeding conditions (the balance between ground water and inflow from adjacent river during the spring season) were found to be major factors influencing aquatic chemistry and studied habitats. The studied cutaway lakes cannot be considered as typical bog lakes regarding hydrochemical composition (especially regarding concentrations of major dissolved ions, pH and water colour) and hydrobiological features (metabolic activity, biomass and number of species of phytoplankton and zoobenthos). Considering aquatic chemistry and community structure of the cutaway lakes, a recommendation was made in respect to peat excavation to transform peat mining sites to lakes.

Stimulating the growth of trees with ashes of various biofuels (wood, peat) on a cutaway peatland

Puittaimede kasvu stimuleerimine erinevate biokütuste (puit, turvas) tuha liikidega ammendatud freesturbaväljal The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of fertilization on the growth of Silver birch Betula pendula Roth and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. seedlings on a cutaway peatland (Ulila, 58°22'N, 26°26'E). Five treatments were established: wood ash (10 000 and 5000 kg/ha), peat and wood ash mixture (10 000 and 5000 kg/ha) and control (unfertilized field). Results of analysis showed that the pH of peat in the cutaway peatland was before treatment 3.5 and it rose after fertilization by up to 0.7 units by the end of the first growing season. The treatment with 10 000 kg/ha of wood ash gave the best results: the annual height increment of Silver birches during the first growing season after fertilization was 4.5 times higher and that of Scots pines 1.1 times higher than control. In the second growing season after fertilization the increment was respectively 16.3 and 3.3 times higher than control. The root collar diameters of Silver birches were 4.4 time larger these of Scots pines 2.1 times larger than control. Scots pine needles were 2.2 times longer than control and the leaf area of the Silver birches was 6 times larger than control, which also shows a positive effect of fertilization. Peat ash treatment was also favourable, although its effect was much smaller than the effect of wood ash.

Water quality in cutaway peatland lakes in Seda mire, Latvia

Transformation into shallow lakes can be a major post-harvesting land-use option for cutaway peatlands. We focused on lakes created on areas of a cutaway bog in the Seda Mire, Latvia, and the aim of our study was to analyse factors influencing water quality and communities in the cutaway lakes. It has been found that the residual peat amount and the lake feeding conditions (the balance between ground water and inflow from adjacent river during the spring season) are the major factors influencing aquatic chemistry and studied habitats. The studied cutaway lakes can not be considered as typical bog lakes regarding hydrochemical composition (especially concentrations of major dissolved ions, pH and water colour) and hydrobiological features (metabolic activity, biomasses and number of species in phytoplankton and zoobenthos). Considering aquatic chemistry and community structure of the cutaway lakes, a recommendation has been made in respect to peat excavation to transform peat mining sites to lakes.

Rewetting of Cutaway Peatlands: Are We Re‐Creating Hot Spots of Methane Emissions?

Abstract Hot spots of CH4 emissions are a typical feature of pristine peatlands at the microsite and landscape scale. To determine whether rewetting and lake construction in a cutaway peatland would result in the re‐creation of hot spots, we first measured CH4 fluxes over a 2‐year period with static chambers and estimated annual emissions. Second, to assess whether rewetting and lake creation would produce hot spots at the landscape level, we hypothesized a number of alternative land use scenarios for the peatland following the cessation of peat extraction. Using the results from this study and other studies from literature, we calculated the global warming potential (GWP) of each scenario and the respective contribution of CH4. The results showed that hot spots of CH4 fluxes were observed as a consequence of microsite‐specific differences in water table (WT) position and plant productivity. CH4 fluxes were closely related to peat temperature at 10 cm depth and WT position. Annual emissions ranged from 4.3 to 38.8 g CH4 m−2 yr−1 in 2002 and 3.2 to 28.8 g CH4 m−2 yr−1 in 2003. The scenario results suggest that lake creation is likely to result in the re‐creation of a hot spot at the landscape level. However, the transition from cutaway to wetland ecosystem may lead to a reduction in the GWP of the peatland.

Ground vegetation exceeds tree seedlings in early biomass production and carbon stock on an ash-fertilized cut-away peatland

Afforestation is one of the most popular after-use options of cut-away peatlands in Scandinavia since it has both economic and aesthetic values and therefore the interest concerning the carbon stock often focuses on tree stands. Consequently, ground vegetation is readily disregarded in the present calculations of the climatic impact of afforestation. However, at the early stages of afforestation vigorous ground vegetation may have a major role in carbon sequestration. The biomass and C stock of ground vegetation and young tree seedlings were examined on an ash-fertilized and afforested cut-away peatland. Six treatments of different mixtures and quantities of wood-ash, peat-ash, biotite or Forest PK-fertilizer were replicated in three plots. Betula pubescens Ehrh. seeds were sown on randomized halves of split plots while the other halves were left unsown. The plant biomass was harvested four growing seasons after the treatments. The live above-ground biomass of ground vegetation on a cut-away peatland was up to two times that of tree seedlings. Furthermore, the below-ground biomass of ground vegetation and tree seedlings was equal to the above-ground biomass, or even greater. In particular, the biomass of mosses multiplied on ash-based fertilized areas compared to the Forest PK-fertilized areas. Our study proved that at the early stages of afforestation ground vegetation was even more important in biomass production and C stock than tree seedlings. Consequently, our results suggest that ground vegetation biomass should also be considered when the climatic impact of afforestation of cut-away peatlands is being calculated.

Long-term biomass production and nutrient uptake of birch, alder and willow plantations on cut-away peatland

Abstract The leafless above-ground biomass production of planted silver birch (Betula pendula), downy birch (Betula pubescens), grey alder (Alnus incana), indigenous willows (Salix triandra and Salix phylicifolia) and an alder-willow mixture growing on a cut-away peatland area in Central Finland was investigated during a period of 18 (willows) or 19 (birches and alders) years. Biannual fertilization of the birches (0, NPK) and alders (0, PK) and annual fertilization of the willows (NPK1, NPK2) were continued for 10 years. S. phylicifolia had the highest yield (123 t ha−1). The yield of the fertilized downy and silver birch was 112 t ha−1 and 108 t ha−1 respectively, and that of fertilized grey alder 85 t ha−1, and alder S. triandra mixture 93 t ha−1. The mean annual increment of willow was highest at the age of 10 years (S. phylicifolia 7.9 t ha−1 a−1; S. triandra 5.6 t ha−1 a−1). NPK-fertilization increased the 19-year biomass production of downy and silver birch by 14 and 29 t ha−1 respectively and PK fertilization that of alders by 25 t ha−1. The alder plantations bound more N, P, K, Ca and Mg per unit leafless biomass produced after 10–11 growing seasons than the silver birch and downy birch plantations. The silver birch used more N, K and Ca, but similar amounts of P and Mg per unit leafless biomass produced than the downy birch. S. triandra used more N, P, K and Mg per unit biomass produced than S. phylicifolia and both birch species.

Focus group discourses in a mined landscape

Focus group research is rarely used for examining environmental discourses other than when conflict arises. This study looks at local citizen perceptions in relation to mined (or ‘cutaway’) industrial peatland landscapes in Ireland, and seeks to shine a light on the opinions of potential actors, and the degree of willingness to participate in after-use strategies, through focus group sessions. Data are analysed using two mechanisms—content and discourse analysis. It is shown that there is a high degree of reflective perceptions on issues of quality of life and the environment with a low level of concern about further use of peatlands as places of employment—a shift from a productive, utilitarian perception to a post-productive, non-utilitarian perception. It is also shown that, when presented with a scenario that sees cutaway peatlands being used for amenity and biodiversity, there are no negative issues and some degree of enthusiasm. This paper will conclude with remarks on focus group methodologies.

Comparison of Vegetation and CO2 Dynamics Between a Restored Cut-Away Peatland and a Pristine Fen: Evaluation of the Restoration Success

We studied the restoration success of a cut-away peatland 10 years after restoration by comparing the vegetation and CO2 dynamics with those of a pristine peatland of similar nutrition level and climate. Vegetation and CO2 dynamics were monitored during one growing season. We used DCA (detrended correspondence analysis) and diversity indices to study the vegetation composition within and between the sites, and non-linear regression models to estimate the seasonal CO2 fluxes and balances of the sites. Based on both DCA and diversity indices, the study plots in the restored site differed more in the vegetation composition than the study plots in the pristine site. The variation in the CO2 fluxes and balance was greater in the restored than in the pristine site, resulting from the heterogeneous vegetation in the restored site. The seasonal net CO2 balance was positive (sink) at both sites, the restored site binding on average 500 ± 410 g CO2/m2 and the pristine site 390 ± 265 g CO2/m2 (statistically not different, p = 0.575). The results indicate that the restoration of the vegetation composition is still incomplete but the vegetation coverage is sufficient for the restored site to function as a sink of atmospheric CO2.