Action plan for restoration of fragmented peatlands in Wallonia
Philippe Frankard Natural and Agricultural Environment Studies Department, Public Service of Wallonia (DEMNA/SPW)
With the collaboration of Marc Dufrêne (University of Liège); Denis Parkinson, Julie Plunus, Annick Pironet, Maïté Loute, Sara Cristofoli (LIFE teams) ; Grégory Motte (DEMNA) Peatlands are marginal habitats in Belgium, covering less than 1% of the territory
Phytogeographical Peat depth Peat depth Peat depth Total for peat depth region <40 cm 40
Maritime district 38 6 - 6 Flandrian district 1,861 704 - 704 Kempen 2,281 4,982 - 4,982 Brabant 271 1,122 - 1,122 Meuse district 60 71 - 71 Ardenne 300 1,378 12 1,390 Ardenne highlands 5,760 4,068 1,123 5,191 Lorraine 89 661 - 661 Total 10,660 12,992 1,135 14,127
Total current peatland area (in ha) and its regional distribution (data from the soil map of Belgium, Comité National de Géographie, prepared/updated in 1950-1972 and digitalised in 2005) The most extensive and best-preserved mires occur in Wallonia, in the Ardenne massif, mainly on the highlands. All belgian peatbogs occur only on the Ardenne highlands
Wallonia: 14771 ha of peat soils (6831 ha < 40 cm; 40 cm< 6805 ha <125 cm; 1135 ha > 125 cm)
High plateau 1. Hautes-Fagnes 8 2.Tailles 1 3. Saint-Hubert 4. Recogne 2 5. Croix Scaille
3 Valleys 6. Haute Sûre 5 4 7 7. Haute Semois 8. Haine 6 Large peatland areas have disappeared or have been degraded as a result of human activities
Raised bogs : • Historical peat extraction (for domestic heating) (XVth century – beginning of XXth century) • Recent drainage for spruce plantations (since the middle of the 19th century) from 2,000 ha => 160 ha Other peaty habitats (wet heaths, fens, transition mires, bog woodlands, ...):
• Deforestation of natural broad-leaves forests • Recent drainage for spruce (or poplar) plantations • Agricultural use (drainage, fertilisation, …) from 13,000 ha => 6,500 ha Before the start of the peatland action plan … • Most peaty habitat remnants were in a very degraded state and were scattered
• Large areas of peat soils were occupied by spruce plantations (soils incompatible for wood production !)
Large areas were potentially available for nature if restoration measures were taken
• Most of the typical peatland species were rare and threatened
Rare species population persistence is driven by equilibrium between extinction (e) and colonization (c) processes within population patches
Cranberry Fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris) Persistence only if c > e Operational strategy for ecological networks:
• when area is the limiting factor (=> ↑ e) , we need to increase connectivity (↑ c) • when isolation is the limiting factor (=> ↓ c) , we need to increase areas (↓ e) Conservation priorities and actions : General strategy developed since 25 years • to stop threats in existing sites • to restore their quality and to extend areas • to restore new sites to increase connectivity Experimental restoration works of peaty habitats began in 1993 on the Hautes- Fagnes plateau, first by hands, in very small areas … … But quickly on larger scale with the use of excavators running exclusively on wood tracks (to avoid sinking of machines) This experimental restoration programme gave encouraging results (Frankard, 2001; 2005; 2006; 2016) In 2002 Public Service of Wallonia decided to apply, at a large scale, all the restoration techniques successfully tested in the Hautes-Fagnes, in the frame of 6 LIFE Nature projects
2007-2012 Hautes- Fagnes Plateau
2012-2019 Ardenne liégeoise
2006-2010 Taille Plateau
2003-2007 Saint-Hubert 2006-2009 Croix-Scaille Plateau
2010-2014 Lomme Natura 2000 network in Wallonia
With the six « Peatlands » Life Nature projects Key point : To concentrate actions on each existing major peaty area to restore locally good population systems (sources for surrounding sinks) instead to undertake dissipated actions. Budget of the 6 walloon LIFE projects
22 millions euros: 50% European Union contribution, 49% Public Service of Wallonia contribution (Strong involvement of public authorities), 1% some partners – NGO - or co-financiers contribution
30 % for land purchase and compensation payments for use rights (spruce cutting, …)
41% for concrete restoration actions
29% for project management, monitoring actions, public awareness and dissemination of results Goals of the LIFE projects
Restoration of 1400 ha of already protected areas Creation and restoration of 1400 ha of new protected areas
Results (for the 5 projects already finished)
1800 ha of already protected areas restored 2700 ha of new protected and restored areas
At least 500 ha of restored areas for the last project A total of min. 5000 ha restored with 22 millions euros, within a peaty or wet area of 25,000 ha (250 km2) Privates properties
505 ha have been purchased and restored ( state nature reserves) 498 ha have been restored by LIFE projects but stayed private (mainly for big landowners properties). Landowners signed agreement (notarized deed) for a 30 years of « nature assignment » of the restored lands.
Municipalities properties
1425 ha have been restored by LIFE projects. Municipalities signed conventions with the Walloon Region for a « nature assignment » of the land.
After the LIFE projects owners and municipalities may obtain funds to manage their restored lands: European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
State properties
> 2600 ha have been restored and became state nature reserves
These sites are managed with Walloon nature preservation and EAFRD funds Main restoration actions :
Cutting of spruce plantations on peaty soils: 2570 ha Restoration of different habitats: Natural forests: 91D0*, 9190 (91E0*) Open habitats: 7120, 4010, poor fens Infilling of drains: 770 km
Creation of shallow water habitats: > 9000 ponds (30 ha) poors fens Erection of clay or peat dams: 46 km of dams (95 ha) poors fens, 7140 pionneer habitats of raised bogs 7110*
Sod cutting /mulching of degraded wet heaths: 185 ha 4010
Mulching or scraping of degraded peatbogs: 200 ha (+ 25 ha with other funding) poors fens, 7140, 7150, pionneer habitats of raised bogs 7110*
Restoration of natural broad-leaved forests: min 360 ha 91D0*, 9190, (91E0*) Main management actions, prepared by LIFE projects: Mowing of degraded or restored wet heaths: 50 ha of 4010 habitat
Mowing of degraded peatbogs: 15 ha of 7120
Grazing (sheep, cows) of degraded or restored wet heaths: 640 ha of 4010
Grazing (sheep, cows) of degraded or deforested peatbogs: 750 ha of 7120 Spruce cutting or milling For private owners and municipalities: if spruces were cut in advance (before age of maturity), they received compensation payment : value at age of maturity (estimated according to productivity tables) - selling price = compensation payment No compensation payment for state properties because Walloon Region authorities were the beneficiary of the LIFE projects. Results of the main restoration actions … Scraping of the Molinia vegetation and the superficial peat layer on degraded bogs in order to remove nutrients and to lower the surface to a level close to the mean perched water mound Sometimes on very large areas, in completely degraded bogs … (Fagne des Deux- Séries: 70 ha scraped) … Or in the surrounding of intact peatbog
Restoration of lagg communities (results after 4 years) Introduction of “nurse” species into scraped areas (Eriophorum vaginatum, E. angustifolium) and inoculation with Sphagnum fragments and spreading of straw mulch
© LIFE HF
© LIFE HF Results 3 years after nurse species plantation Results after five years Restoration of flat degraded or cut-away bogs by inundation using clay, peat or PVC dams Restoration of a cut-over bog by inundation using peat and clay dams Some large flooded areas ... Restoration of a degraded bog by inundation using peat and clay dams ... Or smaller ones, but in network Restoration of degraded and cut-over bogs by inundation using peat and clay dams Restoration of a deforested bog by inundation using clay and peat dam Restoration of a deforested bog by inundation using clay and peat dams Restoration of a cut-over bog by inundation using peat and clay dams Results after 4 years Results 5 years after the works Restoration of a degraded bog by inundation using peat and clay dams Just after the works
Results 3 years after the works Restoration of heavily cut-over bogs on sloping areas by re-modelling the peat surface to form lagoons Sod cutting or mulching of degraded wet heaths Connectivity was increased within each project area
Saint-Hubert Plateau des Tailles Before After Before After
Croix-Scaille Hautes-Fagnes Before After Before After Marsh Clubmoss (Lycopodiella inundata)
2015 2015 Many data in the XIXth century Extinct since 1935 2009 Brief local reappearance in 1973 Reappearance in a sod-cut area in 2015 1996 2012
2009 LIFE project « Ardenne 2015 liégeoise » area 1996 2016 2012 2013 1973-1975 2015 LIFE project « Hautes- Fagnes» area
Species response to restoration of ecological networks: Plants Species response to restoration of ecological networks Dragonflies
Sympetrum danae (on Saint-Hubert Plateau)
< 2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Species response to restoration of ecological networks Dragonflies
(on the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau)
Aeshna subartica Species response to restoration of ecological networks Butterflies Location of Cranberry Fritillary (Boloria aquilonaris) in the Hautes-Fagnes Plateau (blue: data before 2009; red new data 2013) (Leroy, 2010; Solheid, 2014) 2 isolated populations reconnected
. data before 2009 new data 2013 Birds Very good response of some Teal (Anas crecca) breeding and migratory species (reappearance, increase of populations, …)
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) Crane (Grus grus) Black grouse (Tetrao tetrix)
Counting of cock Areas (Hautes-Fagnes plateau) 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Fagnes du Nord-Est 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fagnes de la Baraque-Michel et 7 9 21 13 11 4 3 de Botrange
Total 8 9 21 13 11 4 3
The last population of the country is nearly extinct nevertheless all restoration measures applied Habitats Article 17 report 2007 - 2012
Structure Global Range Area and Prospects Evaluation Trends Function 4010 Fv 3000 ha Fv U2 U2+ U2 +
7110* Fv 161 ha U2 U2 U2+ U2 +
7120 Fv 2575 ha Fv U2 U2 U2 +
7140 Fv 85 ha U2 U2 U2+ U2 +
7150 U2 1,1 ha U2+ U2+ U2+ U2 +
7230 Fv 10 ha U2= U2- U2 U2 -
9190 Fv 4700 ha U2 U1 U2 U2 +
91D0* Fv 700 ha U2 U2 U2 U2 +
Still unfavourable statuts (U2) verdict (restored habitats are still pionneer, but favourable trends; except for alkaline fens not concerned by the peatland LIFE projects) For the future … Many peaty sites are still degraded and large areas of peat soils are still occupied by spruce plantations ( large areas are potentially available for nature !) + Still no action for rich fens Site connectivity is well enhanced but it could be improved in some places and especially between projects areas
???
New opportunities of fundings (LIFE, EAFRD, Interreg, …) should be taken in account in the future But …
It is difficult:
• to convince some private owners (mainly big landowners) to adhere to restoration project • to convince municipalities to do more
… It remains some challenges for the future Thank You …