Articles
The ecological restoration of Canadian peatlands
Article number
1389_40
Pages
349 – 360
Language
English
Abstract
Peatland restoration is definitely among one of the best nature-based solutions to mitigate climate global warming and restore biodiversity.
For the past 30 years, the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA) has been 1) supporting R&D in peatland restoration, 2) engaging in trials and errors toward responsible management of degraded peat extraction sites, and 3) holding workshops on seeking solutions to the after-use of peatlands.
All these actions have made it possible to assist the recovery of Sphagnum-dominated peatlands that had been degraded or damaged.
Science-based evidence of successful recovery will be presented, such as biodiversity recovery for flora, insects or birds, good control of invasive plants, resilience of a restored peatland to fire post-restoration (a first demonstration in the science of ecosystem restoration) and, the last but not least, the fantastic return of the most emblematic ecological function of peatland ecosystems: that is the recovery peat accumulating function in less than 15 years.
For the past 30 years, the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA) has been 1) supporting R&D in peatland restoration, 2) engaging in trials and errors toward responsible management of degraded peat extraction sites, and 3) holding workshops on seeking solutions to the after-use of peatlands.
All these actions have made it possible to assist the recovery of Sphagnum-dominated peatlands that had been degraded or damaged.
Science-based evidence of successful recovery will be presented, such as biodiversity recovery for flora, insects or birds, good control of invasive plants, resilience of a restored peatland to fire post-restoration (a first demonstration in the science of ecosystem restoration) and, the last but not least, the fantastic return of the most emblematic ecological function of peatland ecosystems: that is the recovery peat accumulating function in less than 15 years.
Authors
G. Breton, C. Boismenu, L. Rochefort
Keywords
bog, ombrotrophic peatland, habitat recovery, peat extraction, horticulture, Sphagnum, sequestration of carbon
Online Articles (49)