Peatland Research Articles (Page 1)

Peatland restoration is recognised as a key nature-based solution to the climate crisis. While post-restoration carbon benefits are widely emphasised, carbon emissions generated during restoration remain unquantified. Increasing reliance on private financing through mechanisms like the IUCN UK Peatland Code mean these emissions could significantly affect the quantification of Pending Issuance Units (PIUs) and Peatland Carbon Units (PCUs) for voluntary carbon markets. Using a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, this study evaluates the carbon costs of common UK blanket peatland restoration interventions, including rewetting and revegetation techniques. Results reveal substantial variability: interventions reliant on exotic materials and helicopter transport produced the highest emissions, with some emitting ~277 times more carbon than others. Case study analysis shows that intervention choice can delay net carbon benefits by up to ~8 years, challenging the adequacy of uniform “risk buffers” applied under the IUCN UK Peatland Code. Conversely, locally sourced materials and low-emission installation methods substantially reduce carbon costs and improve the robustness of carbon credit claims. These findings highlight the importance of integrating carbon cost considerations into restoration planning to increase investor confidence in voluntary carbon markets and strengthen the role of peatland restoration in achieving climate mitigation goals.

Mid-infrared spectroscopy as a potential tool for monitoring the success of tropical peatland restoration.

Local scale assessment of peatland restoration priorities using multi-sensor airborne remote sensing and machine learning

The concept of habitat niche describes species distribution, aids in analyzing community structure, function, and diversity in changing environments, and guides peatland restoration and conservation efforts. Information on peatland sedges and bryophytes is available for Western Canada, but the habitat niche of peatland bryophytes is minimally described in Eastern Canada. Using data from 1403 quadrats in 168 Sphagnum-dominated peatlands across three climatic regions, the habitat preferences of dominant bryophytes were characterized along several environmental gradients. Sphagnum magellanicum complex, S. capillifolium and S. fuscum were the most widespread bryophytes in the studied peatlands in terms of frequency, and when present, S. rubellum dominated coverage. Bryophyte species distribution is mainly controlled by water surface chemistry (pH, K, Na, Ca, SO 4 -2 , Al, Fe), macroclimatic conditions (total rain, seasonal aridity index, biotemperature) and shading by vascular plants. Seven ecological groups were identified with hierarchical clustering, pooling 37 bryophytes, 38 vascular plants and three ground covers (bare peat, litter, open water). Tree and lichen abundance were the main variables differing in Sphagnum-dominated peatlands across climatic regions in Eastern Canada. This understanding aids in preserving and restoring vital ecosystems, guiding informed decisions and proactive measures to mitigate climate change impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

Life peatcarbon project: The role of peatlands for climate change mitigation Dr. biol. Māra Pakalne from the University of Latvia provides insights into the LIFE PeatCarbon project by exploring the significance of peatlands in mitigating climate change. Peatlands are vital for biodiversity and water regulation, but remain among Europe’s most threatened ecosystems. The LIFE PeatCarbon project brings together experts from Latvia and Finland, with partners in Germany and Denmark, to demonstrate how peatland restoration and greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring can deliver scalable climate solutions and strengthen regional collaboration.

In 2022, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Peatlands Initiative (GPI) published the first Global Peatland Assessment (GPA) examining current knowledge on the state of a newly approximated total extent (500 million hectares) of peatlands across all seven continents. The GPA launch at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP 27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh (Egypt) was a landmark moment for collaborative efforts to provide evidence on the roles of policymakers, academic research and community-led initiatives in supporting global peatland conservation and restoration. Following an assessment of key geographic regions, and of the policy and governance in place to protect, preserve and restore national peatlands, the GPA concluded that policy and governance on peatlands in their current (2022) state offered limited scope to address international agendas without a unilateral national policy approach. This article employs a narrative review methodology to draw together findings from the GPA and information from peer reviewed and grey literature to enable a more comprehensive systematic analysis, interpretation and contextualisation of evidence towards achieving an integration of peatland policy and governance worldwide. Although no new empirical results are presented, the process reveals three consistent challenges, namely: 1. (i) contradictory and fragmented policy frameworks; (ii) insufficient and poorly structured finance for restoration; and (iii) limited inclusion of communities and rights holders. These challenges form the basis for three recommendations to guide the formulation of policy for global and national frameworks. The recommendations are: 1) a commitment to establish national policies that protect, preserve and restore peatlands and align with globally established policy; 2) to develop and provide transparent market policy and mechanisms that allow international financial investment to support gaps in national public funding for restoration, conservation and stewardship of intact and high-integrity peatlands; and 3) to develop and integrate a mechanism for public consultation on peatland conservation and restoration programmes to ensure that agency and concerns for local community, culture and economy are formally recognised at global level. We discuss the rationale for each recommendation in the context of the GPA, to demonstrate how each will contribute to ensuring sustainable peatland governance along with the protection and conservation of peatlands, as a part of future global efforts supported by the UNEP GPI.

Abstract Ecological restoration of forestry‐drained peatlands is an increasingly acknowledged mean to halt the biodiversity loss, yet little is known on the long‐term responses of vegetation—a key factor in judging the success of various restoration measures. In this study, we follow long‐term succession in vegetation composition from a year before through 11 years after peatland rewetting by ditch filling. Tree harvesting as a part of restoration was conducted by removing the whole trees or stems only. For both restoration approaches, the restoration trajectory of vegetation was non‐linear, and the recovery time differed between plant functional groups. We first observed an initial loss of species, followed by increases in species indicative of undrained peatlands and an increase in trait heterogeneity. Additionally, we observed that sedges responded to restoration faster than Sphagnum mosses. Synthesis and applications : Here we show that restoration increases the resemblance to undrained peatlands, with little differences between the tree harvesting methods. We suggest that Sphagnum moss cover could be used in monitoring the success of restoration of nutrient poor peatlands. Our results highlight the necessity of long‐term monitoring. The difference between strip and near former ditch lines showed spatial variability long after the restoration, which should be accounted for in monitoring.

Mapping peatland extent and condition in the conterminous United States and Hawaii to inform peatland protection and restoration.

Assessing thermal and hydrological responses to montane peatland rewetting using UAV monitoring.

The purpose of this experiment were to find out the interaction growth and yield of leaf onion (Allium fistusolum) on the giving of chicken manure fertilizer and plant growth regulator on peat land. Tihs study used Completely Randomized design (CRD) of factorial pattern with two factors. The first factor was applying of chicken manure fertilizer (K) consisting of 4 (four) levels, namely : : K0 = 0 ton.ha-1, K1 = 5 ton.ha-1, K2 = 10 ton.ha-1 and 15 t ha-1. The second factor was the provision of concentration growth regulators (Z) which consists of 4 (four) levels, namely : Z0 = 0 ml L-1 water, Z1 = 1 ml L-1 water, Z2 = 3 ml L-1 water and Z3 = 5 ml L-1 water. . The results showed the interaction of chicken manure and growth regulators affected the number of leaves, fresh weight of plants and dry weight of plants. The combination of 10 t ha-1 chicken manure and 5 ml L-1 water growth regulator treatment was able to increase the yield of spring onions with a fresh weight of 32.67 g plant-1.

Testate amoeba functional traits and indicator taxa are important tools for tracking peatland restoration effectiveness.

Although peatland restoration has been widely promoted as a strategy for reducing carbon emissions and restoring hydrological function, its effectiveness remains context-dependent and highly variable across regions and methods. This study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis of 52 peer-reviewed studies from 2014 to 2024, synthesizing the ecohydrological impacts of restoration across multiple spatial scales and implementation types. In tropical peatlands, restoration frequently reduced CO2 emissions by more than 65,000 kg·ha−1·yr−1 and increased carbon sequestration up to 39,700 kg·ha−1·yr−1, with moderate CH4 increases (~450 kg·ha−1·yr−1). In boreal sites, CO2 reductions were generally below 25,000 kg·ha−1·yr−1, with long-term carbon accumulation reported in other studies, typically around 2–3 tCO2·ha−1·yr−1. Higher values in our dataset likely reflect the limited number of boreal studies and the influence of short-term measurements. Across all regions, restoration was also associated with an average rise in WTD up to 10 cm. These averages were derived from studies conducted across diverse climatic zones, showing high standard deviations, indicating substantial inter-site heterogeneity. These differences emphasize the need for region-specific assessments rather than global generalizations, highlighting the importance of adaptive restoration strategies that balance carbon dynamics with hydrological resilience in the face of climate change.

The Indonesian government has increasingly prioritised addressing the environmental impacts of peatland degradation through extensive restoration initiatives. However, research on the social dimensions of these efforts, particularly regarding community knowledge and perceptions, remains limited. This study examines community awareness and perceptions of peatland restoration programmes, assessing both direct and indirect involvement. The research was conducted in 32 villages across three targeted peatland restoration districts: Sambas Regency, Mempawah Regency and Kubu Raya Regency. The findings indicate that local communities generally recognise the ecological functions and benefits of peatland restoration, particularly rewetting implemented through canal blocking systems. Likert-scale analysis reveals that most participants expressed positive perceptions of peatland restoration efforts. To enhance community participation, it is crucial to integrate local involvement at all stages of the restoration process including planning, implementation and evaluation. Furthermore, increasing educational outreach on peatland restoration is essential for fostering a shared understanding between local communities and government authorities, thereby strengthening collaborative conservation efforts.

Peatlands are one of the most important terrestrial carbon storage reservoirs. The response of soil labile organic carbon fractions to environmental changes is a pivotal indicator for assessing the stability of soil organic carbon pools. Soil enzymes act as primary participants in the biogeochemical processes of peatlands, significantly influence the material cycling and energy flow. Taking natural peatlands, degraded peatlands, and peatlands restored for 3, 5, and 8 years in the Changbai Mountains as test objects, we examined the changes of soil labile organic carbon fractions, enzyme activities, soil physicochemical properties, and aboveground biomass during peatland restoration. The results showed that the contents of easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased following peatland restoration. Both MBC and DOC exhi-bited a progressive increase with restoration duration, showing cumulative rises of 139.7% and 160.2%, respec-tively, after 8 years of restoration. In contrast, EOC recovered to the level comparable to natural peatland within just 3 years of restoration, exhibiting a notably rapid recovery. Restoration significantly increase the activities of β-1,4-N-acetylglucosamine glycosidase (NAG) and acid phosphatase (ACP) in the 0-10 cm soil layer. After 8 years of restoration, the activities of NAG and ACP increased by 30.1% and 84.1%, respectively. However, the activity of β-1,4-glucosidase (βG) increased by 60.8% after 3 years of restoration, decreased slightly after 5 years of restoration, and showed no significant difference between the peatland restored for 8 years and the degraded peatlands. Correlation analysis and structural equation modeling showed that soil organic carbon directly influenced soil labile organic carbon fractions, while soil labile organic carbon fractions and aboveground biomass collectively influenced soil enzyme activity. In conclusion, natural-based restoration could effectively increase soil labile organic carbon fractions and soil microbial enzyme activities, thereby promoting peatland recovery. This study would provide basic data and a reference framework for the ecological restoration and management of degraded peatlands.

A global development and dynamics of peatland restoration: a bibliometric analysis

Hydrogen energy is one of the alternative energies that will help overcome the scarcity of fossil energy. One of the steps to produce hydrogen energy is by the electrolysis method. In this study, the electrolysis process was carried out with a combination of peat water and coconut water. Given that in the South Kalimantan area the existence of peat land is very extensive and there are also many coconut trees. So the main raw materials used can be renewed. In addition, the composition contained in peat water can also help in the electrolysis process which consists of metal minerals such as Na, Mg, Al, Fe, Ca, K, and others. These mineral compounds will also help in accelerating the formation of hydrogen gas. The mineral compounds contained in coconut water and peat indirectly produce electrolyte properties and can be used as catalysts to accelerate the reaction to produce hydrogen gas by the electrolysis method. From the results of the research conducted, as much as 155 ml of hydrogen was produced. Hydrogen gas production, 0.6 A of electric current, and 7.3 Watts of electric power in the 30-minute electrolysis process were found in sample F (1.5 L of pure coconut water). In the electrolysis process, peat water and coconut water, the voltage used during the electrolysis process was 12 V which flowed through the cathode and anode.

Peatland carbon loss occurs via gaseous emissions and substantial aquatic fluxes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) during peat mineralisation and degradation. While DOC mobilisation is known to be influenced by hydrological and microbial processes, the role of pore-scale structure, particularly pore-size class, remains underexplored. We hypothesised that DOC concentration is influenced by pore size, with finer pores yielding higher concentrations. Using topsoil and subsoil samples from a degraded fen peatland (average soil organic matter content: 34 wt% and 57 wt%, respectively), we extracted pore water at - 60 hPa (macropores) and - 600 hPa (mesopores). The degraded topsoil exhibited significantly higher DOC concentrations than the subsoil, with levels 1.7 times greater at - 60 hPa and 2.2 times higher at - 600 hPa. No significant difference in DOC concentrations was observed between macropores and mesopores in the subsoil domain; however, higher DOC concentrations were evident in mesopores (107.63 mg L-1) relative to macropores (85.46 mg L-1) in the topsoil domain. Our results demonstrate that DOC concentration from degraded fen peat soils are closely linked to pore structure, particularly pore-size class, bulk density, and total porosity. Elevated DOC concentrations and variability in degraded topsoil are also associated with heterogeneity in the quality of soil organic matter, with mesopores serving as key hotspots for DOC concentration due to their role in organic matter transformation and microbial activity. These findings highlight the necessity of integrating pore-scale physical properties into peatland restoration strategies to effectively mitigate persistent waterborne DOC export.

Peatlands are globally-important carbon sinks at risk of degradation from climate change and direct human impacts, including drainage and burning. Peat accumulates when there is a positive mass balance between plant productivity inputs and litter/peat decomposition losses. However, the factors influencing the rate of peat accumulation over time are still poorly understood. We examine apparent peat accumulation rates (aPAR) during the last two millennia from 28 well-dated, intact European peatlands and find a range of between 0.005 and 0.448 cm yr-1 (mean = 0.118 cm yr-1). Our work provides important context for the commonplace assertion that European peatlands accumulate at ~0.1 cm per year. The highest aPAR values are found in the Scandinavian and Baltic regions, in contrast to Britain, Ireland, and Continental Europe. We find that summer temperature is a significant climatic control on aPAR across our European sites. Furthermore, a significant relationship is observed between aPAR and water-table depth (reconstructed from testate-amoeba subfossils), suggesting that higher aPAR levels are often associated with wetter conditions. We also note that the highest values of aPAR are found when the water table is within 5-10 cm of the peatland surface. aPAR is generally low when water table depths are < 0 cm (standing water) or > 25 cm, which may relate to a decrease in plant productivity and increased decomposition losses, respectively. Model fitting indicates that the optimal water table depth (WTD) for maximum aPAR is ~10 cm. Our study suggests that, in some European peatlands, higher summer temperatures may enhance growth rates, but only if a sufficiently high water table is maintained. In addition, our findings corroborate contemporary observational and experimental studies that have suggested an average water-table depth of ~10 cm is optimal to enable rapid peat growth and therefore carbon sequestration in the long term. This has important implications for peatland restoration and rewetting strategies, in global efforts to mitigate climate change.

Leaf organs have an important function as a place for photosynthesis and protein biosynthesis. Photosynthesis ability can be influenced by leaf morphology such as leaf color, leaf area and thickness, number of stomata and leaf shape. Pepper leaves have a variety of shapes that can be used as characteristics of a cultivar. The study aims to obtain information on nitrate reductase activity (NRA) from the leaf morphology of several pepper cultivars planted on peat land. The study was conducted using a non-factorial completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of Bengkayang pepper cultivar leaves divided into three leaf groups (wide, medium and narrow), Indian pepper cultivar leaves and 2 wild peppers in the form of Piper retrofractum and P. colonum. Samples were taken from community plantation, the third youngest leaf of 6 pepper stalks was selected. The results showed that in the Bengkayang pepper population there was a diversity of NRA values. Pepper with the highest ANR was shown in broad-leafed and Indian Bengkayang. The NRA values of broad-leaf, medium-leaf and small-leaf pepper were 5.92; 5.90; 5.81; and 5.78 µmol/hour/gr leaf weight, respectively. In the field, leaf area is an indicator of fast or slow growth rate. The leaf size of wild pepper Piper colonum and P. retrofractum ranges from medium to narrow and has better NRA compared to narrow-leaved Bengkayang

In 1972-1973, large-scale drainage of peat lands for the purposes of effective forestry was carried out on the territory of the West Dvina Peatland-Forest Station of the Institute of Forest Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the Tver Region [Biogeocenological ..., 1982]. Here, in the conditions of the subtaiga of European Russia, swamp forests, bog moss forest and swamps are common, formed on different types of peat − from eutrophic to oligotrophic. In 1974, a permanent sample plot was laid in the Pinetum andromedo-eriophoroso-sphagnosum on the oligotrophic bog. Repeated surveys of this sample plot were conducted in 1983 and 2023. The sample plot (SP) has the number 5-74, has an area of 0.36 ha and a rectangular shape of 36×100 m2 (Fig. 1). The long side of the SP is located parallel to the drainage ditches 35 m from them. The distance between the ditches is 106 m. The depth of the peat is about 4 m. The drainage regime corresponding to the location of SP 5-74 in the middle of the 106-meter channel is considered extensive. The peat soil was characterized by the constancy of the botanical composition of peat-forming agents up to 3.5 m and was represented by the upper magellanicum peat (Sphagnum magellanicum Brid.) with a degree of decomposition of 5-25%, deeper − sphagnum transition (Sph. girgensonii Russ.) with a decomposition rate of up to 30%. The carbon content in peat is 48-50%, the pH does not exceed 3.0, the ash content is 2-5%. High peat soil is characterized by a low volume mass (density): from 0.046 in the upper layers to 0.090 g/cm3 in the lower ones [Glukhova, 1990]. In 1974 SP 5-74 was laid in the Pinetum andromedo-eriophoroso-sphagnosum, which was characterized by Vb class of productivity and V class of age. In 1983, a more productive pine forest of the same V class of age was formed at this place, but still belonging to the Vb class of productivity: compare table 1 for 1983 M = 24.4 m3/ha, and for 1974 M =14.3 m3/ha. In 2023, the Pinetum ledoso-sphagnosum drained of the Va class of productivity and V class of age with M=50.0 m3/ha was already described at this site. The taxational characteristics of the stand by year and layer are given in table 1. Extensive drainage of Pinetum andromedo-eriophoroso-sphagnosum with Vb productivity class showed that 10 years after drainage, a more productive pine forest was formed, and 50 years later – Pinetum ledoso-sphagnosum drained with Va productivity class. Based on the taxation data, the stock of stand was calculated for three years of observations (1974, 1983, 2023), which amounted to 14.3, 24.4 and 50.0 m3/ha, respectively. To convert stand stocks into carbon stocks in the phytomass of a stand (trunk, branches, foliage, roots), a conversion coefficient was used, which, in accordance with the methodological guidelines [On approval ..., 2022] turned out to be 0.314. The analysis of carbon stocks showed that it increased 1.7 times in 10 years, and 3.5 times in 50 years. Regression analysis of these data showed a linear dependence of the carbon stock (C) on the age of extensive drainage (Adrain) over a 50-year period (Fig. 2): C = 0.2322 × Adrain + 5.0116, t/ha, where R2 = 0.99; p-value (F) = 0.064 for α = 0.05. The coefficient of determination (R2) of the regression linear equation is high, but the equation is not reliable (p-value (F) α). In the future, these data can be replenished by analyzing the increments of model trees or mathematical modeling. Over the 50-year drainage period, the average annual increase in the stock of the stand was 0.71 m3/ha and the average annual increase in the carbon stock of the phytomass of the stand was 0.24 t/ha. An analysis of the literature on drained bog pine forests of the V-Vb bonitet showed that the stock of stands, depending on the age of drainage, may generally increase, less often decrease.