Carbon loss reduction from peatlands: an integrated approach

Northern hemisphere peatland soils contain ~33% of global soil carbon, while accounting for only 3-5% of total land area. Many of these peatlands are degraded and emit rather than store carbon. Global annual GHG emissions from drained organic soils are ~1,600 MT CO2 eq., twice that from aviation. In NWE this is ~150 MT/year, more than Belgium’s emissions. Yet emission estimates from degraded peatlands are inadequate and we lack effective strategies and methods to combat degradation and promote recovery. Regional differences in land ownership complicate the situation and limit the replicability and transferability of effective alternative management of peatlands. Care-Peat will demonstrate innovative technologies and partnerships that achieve net emissions savings from novel restoration and accounting techniques in NWE.Within Care-Peat, nature organisations work with landowner groups to demonstrate carbon savings potential using pilots ranging from 10 to 250 ha. Five knowledge institutes from 3 countries work together to develop and test new techniques for improved peatland carbon assessment and accounting to highlight the region’s natural potential for significant carbon reduction. The project works with innovative companies in the field of restoration and develops partnerships with local and regional stakeholders to increase the impact of pilots and maximize socio-economic benefits. Methods tested and validated will be transferred and replicated to users across NWE to determine the most appropriate management measures. Partners, who manage additional peatlands, will facilitate further restorations after project end to benefit both biodiversity and carbon reduction policies. The project will continuously liaise with our CConnects partners to maximise exchange, cooperation and dissemination. The effect of pilots at project end is a C reduction of 7,800 tonnes/year, after 5 years 0.14 MT/y and after 10 years 1.4 MT/y across other NWE nature reserves.Currently C-losses on 5 pilot sites (in total approx. 630 ha) together is about 2,950 tonnes of CO2-eq/year. This figure is based on both assumptions from comparable sites and measurements from specific pilot sites.