EXMOOR and DARTMOOR Knowledge Gaps and Future Research

EXMOOR AND DARTMOOR Knowledge Gaps and Future Research extent remote sensing data to lower than the surrounding peat, to optimise the restoration of extrapolate this understanding to act as a hydrological sink and complex degraded peatland the moorland scale. For example, therefore maintain locally high systems has been invaluable to we have observed an average and stable water tables. A better planning restoration. Extending increase in deep water storage understanding of which peat and developing this preliminary of 7.3 cm at Flat Tor Pan (see cuttings (type and location) require work across larger extents and esearch to date has focused water treatment systems. However, respond better to ditch blocking Dartmoor Deep Peat Hydrology). restoration and which do not encompassing a wider range of 2 on gaining an empirical peatland restoration may also than others. An improved Given that an area of 6 km was would enable restoration resources degradation types (and restoration understanding of the effects of increase river baseflows between understanding of this would enable mapped as ecohydrologically to be more effectively targeted in techniques) could provide a novel Rrestoration on a range of ecosystem rainfall events, providing other restoration resources to be more affected by comparable peatland the future. and detailed ability to optimise features (eroding peat pans, see restoration across multiple services at the plot scale. Our important ecosystem services and effectively targeted in the future. • Current peatland mapping work Dartmoor Deep Peat Extent and landscapes. findings so far, described in this ecological benefits. Quantifying has enabled us to understand Moorland Scale Effects of Condition Mapping) we can already document, inevitably lead to further changes in baseflow would enable where peat is degraded within make broad assumptions as to the questions that would benefit from a fuller understanding of the effects Restoration Dartmoor National Park. Initial potential water storage Dartmoor scientific insight, for example: of restoration on river flows from Further work is also required to work using remote sensing data these restored peatlands. could provide. In this example, • Peatland hydrology, dissolved combine the ground based empirical understanding with landscape assuming the peat has bulk density organic carbon production and • As ditch blocking in shallow peat of 50 % (as a conservative estimate) greenhouse gas emissions are has not universally brought about and that this area was similarly strongly linked to vegetation the change in vegetation required restored, an additional 219 million composition, in particular Sphagnum to alter dissolved organic carbon litres of water would be stored recolonization. Changes in production or greenhouse gas within the peatlands of Dartmoor vegetation communities can be emissions, different methods of if they were restored. Future work slow i.e. over decadal timescales. It Sphagnum reintroduction are being could expand and improve such would therefore, be beneficial to piloted. The costs and effects of estimations, and better contextualise return to restored sites 10-years these different methods could the effects of restoration across the following restoration to see if, be assessed over the next few landscape. Examples of opportunities given more time, the effects of years to ascertain their differing include: restoration have changed or are effectiveness. more pronounced. • Peat cuttings, unlike other types of • Vegetation surveys have indicated degradation, do not always result • Previous work has quantified the that ditch blocking in shallow in a change in vegetation cover effects of restoration during higher peat is more successful in some and loss of peatland functioning. water flows, to understand changes areas than others, as yet we do This may be because they are in flood risk and the inputs to not understand why some areas 44 Mires On The Moors Science and Evidence Report 45.

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