PEATLANDS international 2/2011

Welcome to Stockholm! 14th International Peat Congress 3 - 8 June 2012

The member magazine of the International Peat Society 1 Talking of: sustainability

Klasmann-Deilmann is the most successful group of companies in the international substrate industry. With production and sales companies in Germany and abroad as well as trade partners in more than 70 countries, we lead the world market in this sector. Our growing media provide the basis for successful plant cultivation for professional horticulturists throughout the world.

In 2010, we generated sales of EUR 145 million. Our European locations produced 3.3 million m³ of growing media, potting soils and quality compost from green waste. The Klasmann-Deilmann Group employs a workforce of 830 worldwide.

Our mission statement, which is based on our ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, confronts us with the daily task of assuming responsibility for man, the environment and future generations. For that reason alone, Klasmann-Deilmann faced up to the diverse challenges of protecting the environment at a very early stage. As a result, we now have comprehensive expertise in matters relating to the re-waterlogging of former peat extraction sites. Over the long term, this will transform around 4000 hectares back into a typical bog landscape. The company makes another major contribution to environmental protection by producing quality composts which are increasingly included in organic substrates for use in commercial horticulture.

www.klasmann-deilmann.com

KD11.076_Anzeige_Umwelt_210x297mm_Lay_2.indd 1 25.05.11 18:06 PEATLANDS In this issue international 2/2011 Editorial: On our way to Stockholm - International Peat Congress 2012 3 From the President’s Desk: Strategic thoughts 4 Publisher IPS Insights International Peat Society Vapaudenkatu 12 The new IPS website 2 FIN-40100 Jyväskylä, Finland Executive Board Elections 2012 5 Phone: +358 14 3385 440 IPS Elections 2012 – Commissions and Scientific Advisory Board 5 Fax: +358 14 3385 410 IPS Award of Excellence 2012 for persons, groups, and projects 5 E-mail: [email protected] New Members of the IPS 63 Web: www.peatsociety.org IPS Membership Application Form 63

Editor-in-Chief Research reports

Jaakko Silpola, Secretary General Peat extraction increasing biodiversity at Torreblanca, Mediterranean Spain 8 Assistant to the Turf Cutting and Conserving Raised Bog Habitat in Ireland 14 Editor-in-Chief Estonian Mire Inventory Completed 20 Use of Ukrainian Peat: Problems and Prospects in Energy Susann Warnecke, and Horticulture 34 Communications Manager Some Aspects of Raised Bog Conservation in Northern Poland 42

Editorial Board Symposia, workshops and conferences

Paul Short, Canada 14th International Peat Congress 2012 - Register now! 6 Juhani Päivänen, Finland Peat Day 2011 in Helsinki: Finland’s Energy Sector Does Need Peat 18 Michael Trepel, Germany Workshop on Peat and Humic Substances in Zittau, Germany 24 Catherine Farrell, Ireland Baltic Peat Producers’ Forum 2011 brings more than Lech Szajdak, Poland 200 peat experts to Riga 26 Anne Jelle Schilstra, the Netherlands Visions and Visionaries at the 46th German Peat and Marie Kofod-Hansen, Sweden Humus Day in Bad Zwischenahn 27 Allan Robertson, United Kingdom Sphagnum farming workshop in the Canadian Maritimes 28 Tom Malterer, USA Conference on „Necessity of Peatlands Protection” in Tlen, Bory Tucholskie, Poland 38 Layout Future IPS Meetings and Symposia 64 Events of related organisations 64 Susann Warnecke, IPS Secretariat Taittopalvelu Yliveto Oy Tropical peatlands

Printed by Biodiversity research and conservation in Borneo’s peat-swamp forests 46 University of Helsinki and University of Palangka Raya launch joint capacity building project 51 Saarijärven Offset Oy Sharing Best Management Practices on Peatlands in Southeast Asia 52 Finland, in December 2011 The Hydrology of the Ayer Hitam Peat Swamp Forest, Johore, Peninsular Malaysia 55 Cover photo News from our corporate members Crowded street in Stockholm. Photo: ola ericson/imagebank. Griendtsveen AG’s fully automated peat briquette production sweden.se line is a success! 37 Lehtopeat – feel the magic of the peat 58 To order Peatlands International, Famous Estonian conductor in peat 62 or to advertise in the magazine, please visit www.peatsociety. Book Reviews org/publications/peatlands- international or contact the Editors Vasyugan Mire – Natural Conditions, Structure and Functioning 45 at [email protected]. Carbon credits from peatland rewetting 60

ISSN 1455-8491 1 The new IPS website. The ultimate reason to join us as a member. www.peatsociety.org Editorial Jaakko Silpola

On our way to the Stockholm International Peat Congress, June 2012!

Dear IPS members, probably the most famous prizes dear partners, dear friends, of the world, are presented? This Congress will also be the first time The International Peat Society and when IPS’ own trophy, the € 1,000 our Swedish IPS hosts are pleased to Award of Excellence, can be given to invite you to the 14th International groups and projects. Peat Congress, held in Stockholm, Sweden on 3 - 8 June 2012. Furthermore, do not forget to register for one of the two Pre- The International Peat Congress (IPC) Congress Tours. One of them is takes place every forth year. The created especially for students and theme of the 14th IPC is ”Peatlands the second for peat producers. in Balance” and at its core will be There are also two Post-Congress presentations and documentation of Tours directed to Northern the latest research results on peat Sweden, towards the magic Nordic and peatlands in the broadest sense mires and towards the famous from the boreal, temperate, and midnight sun. tropical regions of the world. Benefit from early registration fees The Congress will offer an excellent and register now at the Congress opportunity for all stakeholders – website at www.ipc2012.se. scientists, policy makers, and industry We hope to see all of you in representatives – to meet and share Stockholm! new knowledge on all aspects of peat and peatlands. New IPS homepage – Visit and share with your Swedish mires and more colleagues

In addition to various presentations A few weeks ago, IPS has in full-day sessions, there are established its brand new altogether 15 different Mid-Congress homepage. The new website Tours around Stockholm area, from contains, in addition to the content Also all previous issues of Peat News topics like ”Peat geological history we had on our old pages, a database and Peatlands International will be in the pioneer L. von Post trails – of downloadable IPS publications and published online in the member changes of peatlands during the last the full IPS membership list. section. In addition to this, you have 90 years” to “Wetlands and peat the possibility to post open scientific in the Uppsala municipality with All IPS members should have or industry career opportunities and Linnaeus Culture”. received their personal user names, to browse recent peatland news and passwords and instructions to log scholar links. We hope that these During those field trips, different in and view this special content by features will be actively used. Please aspects of peatland forestry, email. At the same time, you were have a look and explore the new agriculture and peat production asked to open your contact data so pages at www.peatsociety.org! as well as characteristics of the that other members can see and Swedish mire landscape and pristine email or phone you for joint projects. With best regards from the peatlands are studied. We believe IPS Secretariat, that there is something interesting You are also able to browse and and new for all of you. In addition, download scientific papers from when will you have the possibility the proceedings of IPS congresses, Jaakko Silpola again to see Stockholm’s City hall, the conferences and symposia for free. Secretary General of the IPS very place where the Nobel prizes, New content will be added daily. email: [email protected]

3 Strategy for Responsible From the President’s Desk Peatland Management

Donal Clarke

Strategic thoughts

Edited by Donal Clarke and Jack Rieley 4 The Strategy for Responsible International Peat Society ANNUAL RE Peatland Management (SRPM) PORT 2010 was adopted in October 2010 and distributed soon afterwards. In September 2011 a reminder press release in 19 languages was issued and feedback suggests it has since been extensively noted.

Since its launch the SRPM has contributed to the development of public policy in a number of countries, including Germany, The IPS Executive Board at work Ireland, Estonia, Finland, the in Espoo, Finland on 16 November Netherlands and Canada. It is 2011. Photo: Susann Warnecke being used as a support for the development of sustainable peatland Practical Application of Wise Use. strategies in Ireland and Finland and A consultative process to develop In this context the 2012 elections the preparation of a ‘sustainable peat and finalise these guidelines is to the Executive Board represent an supply chain’ in the Netherlands. currently under way. important milestone for the Society. The SRPM has also been used as a guidance document in the Veriflora Other initiatives currently being If these and future projects are certification system developed in considered or undertaken by the IPS to be successfully progressed the North America, and in the initial include: continuation of a strong Board will be stages of the development of codes important. In the last year changes of conduct and possible eventual • The preparation of a have been made to the election certification procedures in Europe. comprehensive set of best system so that the President and practice guidelines for after-use First Vice President will be directly The IPS endorses the efforts to of cutaway peatlands. elected by National Committees and achieve certification systems for • The updating of information on not nominated by countries hosting responsible peatland management. the extent and uses of global future Congresses. As an agency the IPS is neutral in its peatlands. This information support of any specific certification would be of assistance as a It was felt that the added legitimacy system. It does however recommend tool in the management of the and transparency conveyed by that any certification system; world’s peatlands. election can only strengthen the • The development of a position Board. I strongly urge all National • Follow the principles set out in paper on the conservation and Committees to debate within the SRPM. management of peatlands in themselves how they will vote • Meets international certification emerging nations. next June to ensure we continue standards of ISO 9001, ISO with a vibrant IPS, and how they 14001. The shape of, and funding for, can contribute to the debate at • Establishes mutual recognition these projects as yet remain to be the Round Table for National of other responsible peatland determined but the Executive Board Representatives on ways in which the management certification had given them its support and Society can be further strengthened systems. hopes they can be developed in co- and improved. operation with other NGOs. Following the publication of the SRPM, the IPS is seeking to The support for and development Donal Clarke support it further by facilitating the of these projects represent steps in IPS President development of Guidelines for the the continuing evolution of the IPS. email: [email protected]

4 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Executive Board Elections 2012 IPS Award of Excellence 2012 for At the Annual Assembly of National Representatives at the International Peat Congress in Stockholm on 8 June, elections will be held for the persons, groups, following six forthcoming vacant posts on the IPS Executive Board: and projects

Function At present Status Term of office The IPS Award of Excellence President Donal Clarke, Ireland To be elected. 2008 – 2012 can now be presented also to 1st Vice President Björn Hånell, Sweden To be elected. 2008 – 2012 projects and groups for any 2nd Vice President Paul Short, Canada To be elected. 2010 – 2012 peat and peatland activity. Ordinary members (2-6) Neither the winner nor the applicants have to be IPS Satu Helynen, Finland (not for re-election) To be elected. 2008 – 2012 members. The Award continues Jutta Zeitz, Germany (not for re-election) To be elected. 2010 – 2012 Open position To be elected. 2010 – 2012 to be € 1,000 – this is a great Valerijs Kozlovs, Latvia Stays in office. 2010 – 2014 opportunity to receive funding Erki Niitlaan, Estonia Stays in office. 2010 – 2014 for your projects! Lech Szajdak, Poland Stays in office. 2010 – 2014 Applications can be submitted Nominations for the open positions can be sent to the IPS Secretariat by as simple application letters, all IPS National Committees (that have paid their membership fees) until via email or on the IPS website. 31 January 2012, including an application letter and a CV of the person They should contain at least concerned. the contact details of both the applying person and the Strong, committed and active players for our Board are needed to be able nominee plus an explanation to deal with the challenges of the coming years, and to keep our Society why the Award should be given a living pool of enthusiastic specialists and devoted peatland friends. The to that special person, group or Executive Board meets approximately 3-4 times a year for 2-3 days, mostly project. in Europe, and quick email access between meetings is essential. All proposals are reviewed The election of the three Presidents and 1-3 ordinary Board members will by the IPS Executive Board be carried out by authorised Representatives of our National Committees in March and the Award at the IPS Annual Assembly on the last Congress day. The Board members is presented at the Annual will be elected for the terms 2012-2016. The Presidents will be elected Assembly in Stockholm in June. independently from the venue of the International Peat Congresses. Deadline for applications is The Second Vice President is at the same time member and contact strictly 31 January 2012. person at the IPS Scientific Advisory Board. Half of the ordinary Board members change every second year. Please see the IPS Statutes and More info and application: Internal Regulations for more details on the requirements and the election www.peatsociety.org/about-us/ procedure at www.peatsociety.org/about-us. award-excellence.

IPS Elections 2012 – Commissions and Scientific Advisory Board At the International Peat Congress in June 2012, it is also time to elect the Chairs, Vice Chairs and Secretaries of the nine IPS Commissions. All Chairs of the IPS Commissions are automatically members of the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) which supports the Executive Board and Annual Assembly in decision-making: ­ • C1: Stratigraphy, inventory and conservation of peatlands (Dr Lars Lundin & Assistant Professor Maria Strack) • C2: Utilisation of peat and peatlands for horticulture, energy and other economic purposes (Gerald Schmilewski & Pat Fitzgerald) • C3: Agricultural use of peatlands and peat (Professor Dr Lech Wojciech Szajdak) • C4: Chemical, physical and biological characteristics of peat (Professor Jürgen Schoenherr) • C5: Restoration, rehabilitation and after-use of peatlands (Dr Catherine Farrell) • C6: Peat balneology, medicine and therapeutics (Riitta Korhonen) • C7: Ecology and management of forested peatlands (Dr Hannu Hökkä & Dr Florence Renou-Wilson) • C8: Cultural aspects of peat and peatlands (Dr Michiel Gerding) • C9 Tropical peatlands (Professor Jack Rieley) • Standing Committee on Peatlands and Climate Change (Professor Mats Nilsson)

More information about the work of the Commissions, their contact details and Annual Reports of the previous years can be found at www.peatsociety.org/about-us/commissions-and-working-groups.

5 14th International Peat Congress 2012 Register now!

ildikó lukács/imagebank.sweden.se Text: Susann Warnecke

There are good and bad Actually, there is indeed a lot moments at the IPS Secretariat. to expect. The carbon emission Definitely an excellent moment discussion, climate change studies, was the morning of certification and life cycle analyses 1 December 2011. Having just as well as the amount of attention arrived at our office, one that tropical peatlands and boreal Many of those questions cannot be of the first emails I saw was waterways have received in the answered on one or two sentences, the one from the Stockholm media in recent years, have definitely but have to be carefully studied, Congress organisers: 407 raised the profile of our formerly very evaluated and explained in words proposals for presentations specialised discipline. that can be understood by both, were submitted by the highly educated experts and the extended abstract deadline! Not only the technically oriented general public. peat experts are interested in latest This was much more than the some research results, but a lot of young This is our chance to move on, to hundred one month earlier. And enthusiastic specialists are flowing give our knowledge and experience much more than the 300 the evening in. They want to know how mires to the world. From and to scientists, before. Probably every third of our work, how peatlands can be restored students, policy makers and non- members had been sitting in front of and how their values can be given government activists to the energy, his or her computer on 30 November, to coming generations, but also how agriculture and horticulture sectors. during the very last evening, working these areas can be utilised and, at From business to conservation and and writing to get ready for the the same time, preserved for the vice versa, to the media and all who biggest mire and peatland event this growing population of the Earth. are affected by peatland policies. year. Well done, dear colleagues. Scientific knowledge to be applied in practice in all peatland countries. Truly a task for an international peat association and its members. Have a look at the broad range of topics to be presented. Join the evening programme to meet people from your and other disciplines. Come with us to see mire and peat utilisation a la Sverige. Register for the event at www.ipc2012.se, and bring your fellow colleagues, your All detailswww.ipc2012.se and registration: family and a few young professionals with you.

Peatlands in Balance Stockholm, Sweden, 3 - 8 June 2012 6 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 fredrik broman/imagebank.sweden.se lena granefelt/imagebank.sweden.se ola ericson/imagebank.sweden.se

susann warnecke/ips

Scientific Programme We promise that you will not leave I. Inventory, stratigraphy and conservation of mires and peatlands (Chair: L Lundin) with empty pockets, but with your I.1) Mire ecology and biodiversity (H Rydin) backpack or suitcase full of papers I.2) Mire hydrology and hydrochemistry (L Lundin) I.3) Peatlands as historical archives (G Sohlenius) and brochures, eyes gleaming with I.4) Mire conservation and wetlands for landscape functionality (E Lode) fresh impressions, a hand full of I.5) Peatland Ecosystem Services (A Bonn) new partners, friends and their email addresses, maybe some II. Peat for horticulture, energy and other uses (G Schmilewski) II.1) Peat for horticulture (G Schmilewski) cotton grass in your boots, and a few II.2) Peat for energy (P Fitzgerald) more memory sticks for your busy maria emitslöf/imagebank.sweden.se II.3) Peat harvesting and processing technology (K Mutka) computer. We look forward to seeing you. III. Agricultural use of peat and peatlands (L W Szajdak) III.1) Special session: MYRKLIMA - mitigation of climate change impacts of cultivated peat soils (K Berglund) Susann Warnecke IV. Chemical, physical and biological characteristics of peat (J Schoenherr) IPS Communications Manager [email protected] V. Restoration, rehabilitation and after-use of disturbed peatlands (C Farrell) V.1) Sphagnum farming (Joint II & V) (C Farell; G Schmilewski) V.2) Special session: Mountain Peatlands - restoration, sustainable use, and Ecosystem services (C Trettin)

VI. Balneological, medicinal and therapeutical use of peat (R Korhonen)

VII. Ecology and management on forested peatlands (H Hökkä) VII.1) Peatland forestry and surface water quality (A Laurén) VII.2) Management methods for peatland forestry (F Renou-Wilson)

VIII. Cultural aspects of peat and peatlands (M Gerding) VIII.1) Peatlands and tourism (M Gerding) VIII.2) Cultural and socio-economic aspects (M Gerding)

IX. Tropical peatlands (J Rieley) IX.1) Sustainability of tropical peatlands: Assessment of the present and prognosis for the future (S Page) IX.2) Carbon balance and GHG fluxes in tropical peatlands (IX & X) IX.3) Social and economic uses of tropical peatlands (M Silvius)

X. Peatland carbon budgets and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes (M Nilsson) X.1) Carbon balance & GHG fluxes in natural/seminatural peatlands (M Nilsson) X.2) Carbon balance & GHG fluxes in disturbed and cut-over peatlands (E-STuittila) X.3) Carbon balance & GHG fluxes – politics and carbon financing (I-M Gren)

7

susann warnecke/ips conny fridh/imagebank.sweden.se Peat extraction increasing biodiversity at Torreblanca, Mediterranean Spain

Text: P. Colpaert and E. Climent Arquimbau

Peatlands are exceptional Prat de Cabanes - Torreblanca in have been realized on the effects on ecosystems because of the Castellón, Spain, peat extraction ecology and meteorology of this peat biodiversity they contain. increases biodiversity. extraction. Nevertheless, many peatlands on the planet are being used The best studied peatlands are the To describe the environmental, social for peat extraction for northern Sphagnum peatlands. and economical aspects of the peat several applications. However, also herbaceous peatlands extraction activities in Torreblanca, are being harvested, albeit on a the strategic objectives and actions The oldest of these is the use as much smaller scale. The company as stated in the Strategy for a fuel, while right now the most Industrias fertilizantes orgánicas, SA Responsible Peatland Management important use on a global scale is utilises the peatlands in section D will be followed and treated in the agricultural use. The extracted peat of the natural park Prat de Cabanes same order as these were dealt with is used in substrates while many - Torreblanca. Black peat extraction in the Strategy. peatlands are transformed into in the Prat de Cabanes - Torreblanca plantations. In the last decade many has been documented for about 150 Biodiversity ecologists are opposing these uses. years. For most of the time, this peat The use of peat would decrease was used for combustion and only in The vegetation of the peatlands in biodiversity. Is this always the case? the last decades agricultural uses are Torreblanca can be divided in six In the peatland in the natural park given to this black peat. Few studies groups (Almenar Gil, D. 2010).

Aquatic birds in one of the artificially created lagoons.

8 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Colony of red-crested pochards.

The largest vegetation type are the The fifth vegetation group are the sub halophylic reeds. The principal plants that occur in the salt marshes. formed after peat extraction and plant species in these reeds are These salt marshes occur in two give home to aquatic plants of the Juncus maritimus, Phragmites zones, one close to the coast in genera Zannichiellia, Ruppia and australis, Inula crithmoides, Schoenus Torrenostra and another one near Potamogeton. nigricans, Aster tripolium, Sonchus Torre de la Sal (“salt tower”). The maritimus, Artemisia gallica, typical vegetation in this habitat In the decision-making process for Centaurea dracunculifolia and Elymus are shrubs with succulent leaves suitable areas for peat extraction, elongates. such as Sarcocornia fruticosa and it is of high importance to take into Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, account the types of vegetation A second vegetation type are the accompanied with Limonium growing in the different zones of the meadow reeds. This vegetation type narbonense, Juncus subulatus and peatland. Some vegetation types, is usually found close to the sub Inula crithmoides. more specifically those mentioned in halophylic reeds, but grows much the RAMSAR Convention, are legally lower, giving the zone a meadow As a last type, the ponds can be protected and all activities are kept like appearance. The main species distinguished. These ponds are out of these protected zones. found here are Schoenus nigricans, Plantago crassifolia, Artemisia gallica and Inula crithmoides.

The third type of vegetation are the reedbeds. These consist of almost exclusively Phragmites australis and can be found on the borders of the canals, ponds and the permanently waterlogged zones of the wetland.

A next group of vegetation are the sedges of Cladium mariscus. These sawgrasses grow close to the reedbeds, but are smaller in number in this natural park.

On the right: Wet peat extraction in Spain with an excavator.

9 Great cormorants and a grey heron on one of the older lagoons.

of how an industrial activity can all plant material under that will contribute to the survival of a be transformed into new peat. In According to the RAMSAR threatened habitat type. the meantime, this will be an ideal Convention on Wetlands, in the substratum for all sort of water life. Prat de Cabanes - Torreblanca, four During peat extraction, special care The small islands visible on the top types or prioritary habitats can be is taken to create corridors as well are greatly appreciated by aquatic distinguished: as large and small islands in the new birds that use them to rest on. The lagoons. This way, both reed beds larger islands and corridors can easily • 1150: Coastal lagoons and under water plants in the ponds be accessed by birds and are often • 2250: Coastal dunes with Juniperus can develop. And perhaps more used for nesting purposes. sp. pl important, also fish and birdlife get • 3170: Mediterranean temporary more chances. The created lagoons form permanent ponds water bodies, something becoming • 7210: Calcareous marshes with The creation of the islands proceeds more and more scarce in Spanish Cladium mariscus and species of as follows: when a new extraction is wetlands. In most Spanish wetlands, the Caricion davallianae. started, the upper layer of vegetation the free water dries out during the is removed locally and thrown in an summer and thus threatens the However, the presence of one of existing lagoon in such a way that life present in it, such as the fish these types, namely the coastal it forms an underwater pyramid. Valencia hispanica. This threatened lagoon, is a direct consequence of Often the top is just visible above fish species is listed as critically the peat extraction in the natural the water level. The reed roots close endangered and its numbers have park. This case is a very rare example to the surface will regrow fast, while decreased by 80% in the last 10 years, due to habitat destruction for urbanisation, agricultural pollution and the introduction of alien Colony of Eurasian coots predators (Crivelli, A.J., 2006). in the oldest lagoon. The creation of artificial lagoons might give this fish species a new chance to re-establish. Also the European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis, although classified as lower risk/near threatened, the critically endangered European eel and the present amphibians will be given more chances in this newly created habitat type.

Hydrology & water regulation

Peat extraction is done with wet extraction techniques by means of an

10 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 excavator. The wet extraction of peat coastal lakes, the humid air will zones of the peatland would also as done in this coastal peatland in condensate at lower altitudes then permit the establishment of wildlife Spain has the big advantage that the when there is only supply from the watching tours or some other forms water levels of the wetland are not sea. Condensation at lower altitudes of economic activities related to the changed. This is in accordance to the gives rise to the typical summer rich biodiversity in the wetland. directives of the ‘Plan de Ordenación rainstorms Spain used to have. de los Recursos Naturales’. After use, rehabilitation and In the last decades, however, these restoration In point 4.2.2 of the Strategy for have become more and more scarce Responsible Peatland Management, because the humid air is passing Scientists studying peatlands usually objectives related to hydrology are over the highest mountains. Millán recognise two principal uses of explained. The first objective is that Millán, M. (2010) also explains how peatlands: industrial utilization one should try to keep or restore the absence of coastal lagoons has as and conservation. Besides these, water levels and flow regimens a consequence that more water gets there exists also another use of as close to the natural reference lost from the Mediterranean basin, peatlands: recreation. Leupold, S. conditions as possible. In this case of distorting the salt concentration ratio (2004) describes the different forms wet extraction of black peat there is between the Mediterranean sea and of recreational use of a peatland and no doubt this objective is met. the Atlantic ocean and, as a final the benefits it has for the peatland.

Climate and climate change processes

In point 4.3 of the Strategy the role of peatlands in climate and climate change is discussed. First of all, it should be said that the peat extraction in Torreblanca is done with as minimal CO2 emissions as possible. All peat extraction is carried out on a distance of less than one km from the factory so CO2 emissions from internal transport are reduced to a minimum.

Because of the wet extraction method, the function of the peatland as a carbon sink is not One of the peat extraction zones. affected. CO2 and CH4 emissions will not increase for the peatland consequence, summer inundations in whether or not peat is extracted. As the UK. Peat extraction in the Prat de explained further in the paragraph Cabanes - Torreblanca leaves lagoons The principal recreational uses are about after-use, rehabilitation and in places that became land before ecotourism, fishing, aquatic sports restoration, the peatland grows back and will thus help in restoring this and educational walks. The big at an extremely fast rate compared important hydrological cycle. advantage of a restored peatland is to classical Sphagnum peatlands, the presence of small roads that give easier access to the zones of interest. so new CO2 fixation in the peatland Economic activities is substantial. It would be worth a In the case of the peatland of Prat de detailed study to see how much new The company Industrias Fertilizantes Cabanes - Torreblanca, ecotourism can be considered as the most CO2 is deposited in the peatland Orgánicas, SA, responsible for when natural restoration takes place. the peat extraction in the Prat de important alternative use because of Cabanes - Torreblanca, employs 17 the presence of the created islands Millán Millán, M. (2010) studied workers directly and many more and corridors that increases the the effect of coastal lakes in in an indirect way in the region visibility of birds in the peatland and Mediterranean Spain and their of Torreblanca. In this area, other a network of old roads that will allow effects on the inland climate and the industrial activities are as good as amateur ornithologists and nature climate in other European countries. non-existent and economic revenues lovers to reach zones where it would The presence of open water in the used to come from tourism and be hard if not impossible to get forms of lakes in Mediterranean construction, two sectors that were without these. Spain has important consequences hit extremely hard by the economical for the rainfall in other regions. If crisis. The presence of a primitive Another use of the peatland enough evaporation occurs by these road network in the degraded after the extraction would be the

11 EN12580 Bulkdensity

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As an option the Bulkdensity-meter can be equipped with an integrated Moisturemeter for a simultaneous measurement of the humidity of the peat or substrates.

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Meerheide 18 | 5521 DZ The Netherlands | +31 (0) 497 51 72 91 | [email protected] | www.inadco.nl engagement of the government, tourists come to visit this natural park and thereby help the local economy by staying in local hotels and eating in nearby restaurants.

Good governance

In the case of Prat de Cabanes - Torreblanca, the government of the Valencian community is responsible for the legislation regarding the use of the peatlands in the natural park. The directives for the peat production are described in Article 15 of the public journal of the Valencian community nº 4427. The legislation determines the minimum size of the created lagoons, the distance Great Cormorants resting on the to roads or agricultural zones, the tops of the underwater pyramidal shores of the lagoons, the minimal structures. distance between the seashore and the extraction zones, the island sizes have a much larger buffer capacity and so on. most common use and that is against pollution from human the restoration to its state before activities than the small natural The directives stipulated in the extraction started. In the case of lagoons and creeks that were there official journal are followed strictly the peatland Prat de Cabanes - in the past. during the peat extraction and the Torreblanca, this means the creation workers using the excavators are well of a high biodiversity, even higher Human and institutional aware of the importance of these than before the extraction started. capacity and information regulations. In the non-excavated regions of the dissemination natural park, the vegetation is very References homogenous and hard to penetrate. The company utilizing the peatlands Few zones with permanent water in Prat de Cabanes - Torreblanca Almenar Gil, D. 2010. Estudio de la can be found because the vegetation did, on various occasions in the regeneración de la vegetación en covers the whole surface and, when past, ask for studies to get an idea parcelas de extracción de turba en el Prat de Cabanes - Torreblanca. CÀDEC. the phreatic level lowers during of the impact of their activities on Taller de Gestió Ambiental, S.L. the summer, most open water biodiversity and peatland evolution Crivelli, A.J. 2006. Valencia hispanica. disappears - and with this water also after the extraction. Some of these In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List the life dependent on it. studies have been done to illustrate of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. www.iucnredlist.org. that the creation of lagoons does not Downloaded on 11 March 2011. In the last decades, the use of water mean that the original vegetation Leupold, S. 2004. Recreation - a for agriculture and neighbouring before peat extraction - reed beds complementary alter-use option for towns has decreased the available - are not lost forever, but will come cutaway peatlands? Wise use of peatlands volume 2, Proceedings of water for the peatland. Taking this back after time. the 12th International Peat Congress. into account, the created lagoons p1190-1193 help to maintain the necessary water Engagement of local people Millán M. Millán. 2010. Sequía en el volumes to maintain aquatic life. mediterráneo e inundaciones en el Reino Unido y centroeuropa. Cosas que This way, the creation of artificial The peatland described here is free los modelos climáticos globales no ven lagoons stimulates the survival to enter and explore for all people del ciclo hídrico de Europa, y por que. of endemic fish species such as interested in doing so, except for Cuides monográfico 2010. Valencia hispanica, a fish in danger the extraction areas themselves that of extinction whose principal are closed to the public for security threats are habitat destruction and reasons. Pieter Colpaert INFERTOSA introduced predators. Valencia, Spain The local government organizes phone: +34 96 334 83 05 The main reason of habitat bird watching tours in the southern fax: +34 96 333 05 08 destruction would be desiccation and northern parts of the peatland. email: mail: [email protected] www.infertosa.com and water pollution. The large water Also several routes are available volumes in the artificial lagoons also to explore the park. Through this

13 Turf Cutting and Conserving Raised Bog Habitat in Ireland

Text: Catherine O’Connell

The turf cutting row that is raging in and to declare them to the EU of these bogs and were extracting Ireland at present is in response to as Special Areas of Conservation moss peat for gardening. Again the a move by the Government nature or Natural Heritage Areas. National Parks and Wildlife Service conservation agency – the National Geographically, the raised bogs are compensated each company to gain Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) – concentrated in the central midlands ownership of the sites. to protect the last 130 raised bogs of of Ireland. conservation importance in Ireland Private Turf Cutters by the end of 2013. It only concerns Protecting Sites owned by turf cutting on these sites and no Industrial Interests The major stakeholder in the 130 other ones. If we are to achieve our bogs are the people who have goal the first step is to ensure that Some of the 130 sites of conservation turbary rights. Back in 1999, rather families affected have a source of importance were owned by Bord na than deal with the issue of buying fuel. Móna (the Irish Turf Development out the interests of the turf cutters, Board) and so the first positive step Minister Síle de Valera announced EU Habitats Directive was to convince Bord na Móna to the Derogation on the Cessation of sell them to the National Parks and Turf Cutting. It only affects the 130 The issue goes back to 1999 and Wildlife Service. The EU paid 75% sites. She gave turf cutters 10 years is related to Ireland signing up of the money that bought some 20 to stop cutting, offered to either buy the European Union (EU) Habitats sites which are now owned by the their plots or swap their plot in one Directive which committed us to National Parks and Wildlife Service. of the 130 sites for another turf bank protecting active and degraded Other parts of the 130 bogs were in a nearby bog of no conservation raised bog habitats and taking owned by Coillte (Forest Industry) interest. The cessation was to be steps to restore damaged sites to who had planted trees on them in enforced on the 130 sites in batches: their original state. This led the the past. In recent years the EU paid on 31 by the end of 2009; the next Government to identify the active between 50 and 75% funding to 24 sites by the end of 2011 and the raised bog habitat areas remaining Coillte to remove the trees, block up last 75 sites by the end of 2013. The drains helping to restore the active Derogation was introduced without living layer on 29 of the 130 sites. consultation with the private land Still other companies owned part owners who owned the bogs and Clara Bog Special Area of Conservation, Co. Offaly. Photo: Catherine O’Connell

14 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 The utilisation of raised bog resources in the Republic of Ireland. Of the original area of 308,742 ha, 64% have been lost to turbary, 24% to mechanical extraction and 2% to forestry, leaving 10% intact and worthy of conservation. Source: Malone, S. and O’Connell, C. A. (2009) Ireland’s Peatland Conservation Action Plan 2020 Halting the Loss of Peatland Biodiversity. Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Kildare, Ireland. who were dependent on them for European Union Action fuel to heat their homes. To this day there is a huge source of anger The European Union informed the Government Response on this issue. Her scheme met with Irish Government that it was illegal some success and almost € 4 million for the Minister to have announced The newly elected Government in was paid out to gain control of a the Derogation. They warned that 2011 have given assurances to the selection of turf banks in 24 of the due to the fact that Ireland was EU and have taken steps to deal with 130 bogs. However the vast majority actually loosing our raised bogs and the issue of conserving raised bogs. of the turf cutters continued as that Local Government over the Ministers Phil Hogan and Jimmy before to the present day flouting the years had failed to protect the sites Deenihan introduced a new package nature conservation efforts. through planning control and impact of compensation measures for turf assessment we were facing penalties cutters. This involved setting turf Scientific Monitoring (European Court of Justice Case cutters up with one of the following C-392/96). The Commission found options: relocation to alternative At the same time as the Derogation that Ireland failed to comply with its turf plots, providing compensation on the Cessation of Turf Cutting was obligations under both the Habitats payments of up to € 15,000 over introduced, the scientific research and the Environmental Impact a period of 15 years or delivering branch of the National Parks and Assessment Directives. In January 10 tonnes of turf from the State Wildlife Service began to monitor 2011 the European Commission every year to each household. the effects of turf cutting on 31 issued a letter of formal notice to Clinics were held throughout of the 130 raised bog sites. After Ireland. The end result of this action the midlands of Ireland to assist 10 years they have substantial which will proceed if we continue scientific evidence that will stand up to break EU environmental law will to scrutiny that turf cutting on the be fines at the level of € 26,000 per Outside the Clara Bog Visitor margins of these bogs has partially week with a large lump sum up front Centre from the left: Catherine killed off the active peat forming – something the country can ill afford O’Connell (IPCC), Conor Skehan parts of the bogs. This is mainly given the current economic situation. (Chair of the Peatlands Council) to do with draining and burning and Tadhg Ó Corcora (IPCC). of the bog that is associated with Photo: Catherine O’Connell turf cutting as well as the physical removal of the bog habitat, which is then burned in the fireplace. Even common sense comes to the same conclusion – if you keep cutting away at something, eventually it is gone, and each turf cutter operating on the 130 sites is cutting into the bog by 3 m each year. If you multiply this up by the estimated 20,000 turf cutters active on these sites, the extent of the problem becomes evident. On the basis of their research the NPWS gave the EU Active Raised Bog Habitat the lowest or “RED” (Bad) rating in the Assessment for Priority Habitats and Species Report to the EU in 2006 and Degraded Raised bog an “AMBER” (unfavourable) rating.

15 www.peatlandscouncil.ie). The outcome from the consultation will play a significant role in shaping the Government-developed strategy in 2012. Much ground work has already been achieved in this area in terms of new research information and strong direction following the publication in 2011 of BOGLAND: A Protocol for Sustainable Management of Peatlands in Ireland by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Strategy for Responsible Peatland Management 2010 developed by members of the International Peat Society, together with the National Strategy for Peatland Management Members of the Irish Peat Society in Finland 2011 and peatland listen attentively as Jim Ryan (on management policies and techniques right) from the National Parks used in Canada and Germany will and Wildlife Service outlines play an important role in advising the the effects turf cutting and the Bog and the Kilaranny Bog relocation building of a road through Clara site as an example of a successful development of the Irish strategy. bog have had on its hydrology. resolution to one site. The NGO Indeed, the work of the International Photo: Catherine O’Connell representatives on the Council have Peat Society in the development of proposed a Home Energy Efficiency peatland management strategies Programme for turf burning has already been brought to the turf cutters in understanding the households whereby they would attention of the Peatlands Council. measures. In addition the Ministers improve insulation and switch to a set up the “Peatlands Council” – an wood stove as their energy system. Resistance from Turf Cutters independent mediation body. This initiative is being considered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Turf cutting interests in Ireland Peatlands Council Ireland (SEAI). are well organised. In spite of the ban being in place since 2009 on The independently chaired Peatlands The Peatlands Council is also to 31 sites Contractors cut turf from Council was established to provide provide advice to the Government on at least 6 sites in 2011 thanks to mediation between affected issues relating to the management of a survey carried out by Friends parties including turf cutters, Ireland’s peatlands in the long term. of the Irish Environment (www. farmers, industry, government and A key part of the Council’s remit is friendsoftheirishenvironment.net). environmental NGOs all of whom to help shape the development of a Many of the voices heard in the are represented on the Council. National Peatlands Strategy. media are those of the Turf Cutters The Council meets regularly and and Contractors Association who are to date has been beneficial in Irish Government Peatland helping all interests to reach a Strategy greater understanding of the issues involved in managing our raised bog The aim of the strategy is the resources. management of all peatlands in Ireland. A public consultation Members of the Peatlands Council on the content of the strategy is have engaged in a number of underway with a completion date initiatives that may bring resolution of the 16th December 2011 (see to conflicts in certain localities. For example Bord na Móna have assisted the NPWS with the organisation of Turbary rights on Ballynafagh Bog a state of the art relocation site for Special Area of Conservation, Co. turf cutters on Clara Bog in Co. Offaly. Kildare. Areas from which turf has been Bord na Móna are hopeful of being cut in the past are used as spreading in a position to repeat this project grounds where turf can be dried. for turf cutters on 9 other sites from The larger the spreading ground the the list of 130 to be conserved. The greater the capacity for turf cutting and recent annual meeting and workshop ultimately the greater the loss of active of the Irish Peat Society visited Clara raised bog habitat. Photo: D. de Brí

16 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Members of the Irish Peat Society exploring the Clara Bog Visitor Centre at the 2011 Study Tour and Conference Workshop which had as its theme: Towards the development of a Peatland Strategy for Ireland. The development of such attractions are a significant community benefit of conserving peatlands. Photo: Catherine O’Connell

lots of space to scaremonger the of fuel for those affected by the individual turf cutters involved. They conservation designation. Turf talk of ‘bog evictions, flood alerts, cutters, not Contractors are at risk. fire alerts and fuel price alerts’ What are their options - to continue following the closure of the bogs. to oppose the legislation eventually They believe that a way can be found forcing them to challenge EU or to allow turf cutting and conservation National Environmental Law, or to co-exist and are preparing a plan worse still to be put in jail. Better for the 130 peatlands of conservation to decide to work with the National At Clara House Holistic Spa importance that are at the centre of Parks and Wildlife Service and the (www.claraholistic.com) clients can this debate. They intend to present EU on a package that will secure avail of a peat beauty and cleansing treatment, another use of peatlands this plan to officials in the European a source of turf for them in the that potentially could become more Union. future and/or eventually allow widespread in Ireland. them to convert their homes to a Photo: Catherine O’Connell Irish Peatland Conservation more sustainable source of energy Council using new incentives developed by the Government. The choice is encouraging their members to stand As the leading NGO campaigning for obvious but it all depends on robust firm against the Government and the the conservation of a representative leadership to win the trust of the turf EU on this issue and not to engage at sample of Irish peatlands, the IPCC cutters, good will and a lot of latitude any level in the Cessation Scheme. welcome the establishment of the on both sides. Peatlands Council and the invitation The National Parks and Wildlife extended to us to participate in Irish raised bogs are beautiful, Service have shown very little its work. In 2009, IPCC published historical and full of wildlife and are leadership in the peatland areas “Ireland’s Peatland Conservation really worth protecting. We cannot affected which has given the Turf Action Plan 2020”. An analysis of the cut them all away. We all need to Cutters and Contractors Association utilisation of raised bogs presented work together to help. In an ideal in the plan showed that 64% of the world it would be lovely to think original area of 308,742 ha of the about families happily bringing habitat has been lost to turf cutting home their turf next spring from or turbary (see pie chart inset). IPCC’s non-conservation worthy bogs and position on the issue of conserving for restoration work to have begun raised bogs is that the 130 sites in ernest on the some of the best designated represent less than 10% remaining raised bogs on the western of the original area of raised bog in fringe of Europe. But this ideal is a the country, a representative portion long-term goal right now. There are of the bogs which are claimed by strategies to write and alliances to be some to be the best in the Atlantic made. biogeographical region of Europe. The Netherlands, Germany and the UK have cut almost all of their active Dr Catherine O’Connell Chair of the Irish Peat Society and raised bog habitat away. Chief Executive of the Irish Peatland Conservation Council Conclusion Bog of Allen Nature Centre Lullymore, Rathangan Co. Kildare, Ireland The key issue in conserving raised email: [email protected] bogs in Ireland is the provision www.ipcc.ie

17 Peat Day 2011 in Helsinki: Finland’s Energy Sector Does Need Peat Text and photos: Ismo Myllylä

According to Mr. Yli-Kyyny, energy production, and it provides – ensuring the availability of directly and indirectly – employment peat requires in turn that areas for people in the very regions where released from peat production other jobs are scarce.” can be replaced by new ones. Unless this happens, the only Mr. Kurvinen also brought to mind practical alternative for peat in that Finland possesses strengths in Finland is coal. energy production that we can be proud of: We are employing a vast Member of the scale of different forms of energy, Finnish Parliament: are widely applying cogeneration Peat before coal of heat and electricity, and have a decentralised energy production. Esko Kurvinen, Member of the Moreover, the industry has also been Parliament, and Oulu town developing its energy consumption councillor, who methods and efficiency for decades, gave another and has, as a consequence, taken In his opening speech, Tomi Yli-Kyyny, Chairperson of the introductory them to the highest level in the Association of Finnish Peat speech at the Peat world. Industries and CEO of Vapo Oy Day, outlined his addressed the need for new peat understanding by Two-thirds of the energy consumed production areas in Finland. saying that the in Finland is imported. Finnish energy use of peat should sources are wood and peat, as well as Peat is an important and not been hampered or prevented, at hydro and wind power. Finland does essential fuel for the Finnish least while the alternative is coal. not have any fossil energy resources energy management sector, like coal, oil or natural gas. with coal being its only “The order should be clear. First it alternative. This was one of the is necessary to reduce the use of Mr. Kurvinen pointed out that the outcomes of the Finnish Peat imported coal, and only then the use government should operate very Day, held by the Association of of domestic peat. Coal should not level-headed in respect of the use Finnish Peat Industries on be used as a substitute for peat,” he and taxation of peat. In his opinion, 18 October in Helsinki. stated. the widely accepted national mire and peatland strategy provides a In his opening address, Tomi Yli- According to Mr. Kurvinen, Finland solid basis for further handling of Kyyny, the Chairperson of the Board cannot afford to increase the current the issue. “The strategy is a better of the Association of Finnish Peat dependency on imported energy document than it is reputed to be. I Industries and the CEO of Vapo Oy, any more. He also reminded the myself intend to promote the use of emphasised the importance of peat. audience that peat is clearly a better the strategy as it is,” he said. alternative than coal. “Finland has set a challenging Energy sector needs peat objective of raising the share of “The greenhouse gas impacts of peat biofuels in its energy production and coal are more or less similar. Director Jari Kostama of to 38%. Increased consumption of However, the advantage of peat Energiateollisuus ry (Finnish Energy wood-based fuels has an important is the fact that it is domestic. Peat Industries) reminded the audience part in this. Such increased sustains the reliability of energy that the use of wood in power and consumption requires using peat as management, it is an essential heat production facilities has been supporting fuel.” supporting fuel for burning wood in growing fast. This, however, has not

18 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 eliminated the need for peat: “The energy industry wishes to use peat Member of Parliament Esko Kurvinen now and in future for a number from Oulu says that he is very interested of reasons. Due to its combustion in energy issues. In Northern Finland the technology properties, peat importance of energy is increased by the facilitates burning of forest chips and cold climate and the energy-intensive other fuels derived from biomasses industry concentrated in that region. and waste of varying qualities.”

“Being a domestic resource, peat Peat is crucial for energy also improves the terms of trade of supply the national economy, has significant positive regional and local economic The role of peat in the Finnish effects, and is also important in terms energy supply was discussed of security of supply. Furthermore, by Ilkka Kananen, Director of peat also restrains overheating of Huoltovarmuuskeskus, the National the wood fuel markets – wood has Emergency Supply Agency. He to have a competitor,” admitted Mr. noted that the level of energy self- Kostama. sufficiency in Finland is fairly low, just 35%. In addition, it should be Peat holds a significant part in the taken into consideration that 80% processes; the position of peat energy industry objective to move of the imported energy originates should be modified in the climate on large scale from the use of from only very few suppliers for oil, treaty, and the impact of weather imported fossil fuels to domestic electricity, natural gas, coal, and should be reduced in peat production fuels. According to the objective nuclear fuel. by developing harvesting and of Energiateollisuus ry, covering a drying technologies,” Mr. Kananen period of up to the year 2050, this According to Mr. Kananen, peat does suggested. would mean a continued use of peat indeed have an important position at about the current level, while in the Finnish energy supply. The Review of the wood is used in maximum volumes. adequacy of the resource is good, National Peatland Strategy The share of peat in the overall heat and peat is available across Finland. is moving ahead production would be approximately Moreover, peat is also not dependent 20%. on international logistics, it can be The status of the national peatland used in combination with other fuels, strategy was reported on by “If no peat was available, the and it serves as a reserve fuel for Environmental Manager Veikko replacing fuel would be coal. Wood biofuels. Besides, peat technology is Marttila of the Ministry of Agriculture and other renewable sources of ready and reliable. and Forestry. He had headed the energy are in any case used as much strategy workgroup and noted at the as possible,” said Mr. Kostama. “In order to ensure security of supply, Peat Day that the issue is moving new peat reserves should be brought ahead in the public administration. into production by improving the handling of the planning and permit “Comments made on the strategy Some 85 attendees were carefully have been rather consensual and listening to the presentations predominantly positive. The strategy of the Finnish Peat Day at Kalastajatorppa on 18 October. has been considered necessary, and the proposals it contains useful.”

He continued that “the government programme supports the promotion of the strategy, although no firm policies have been developed. Currently the issue is being worked on by three government ministries, and it is intended to complete the draft proposal by the end of November. Based on this proposal the Cabinet will make its decision,” Mr. Marttila anticipated.

Ismo Myllylä email: [email protected]

19 Estonian Mire Inventory Completed

Text: Jaanus Paal, Eerik Leibak

In 2009 - 2010 the project Environment, was thought to serve as approvals or other documents “Estonian Mire Inventory a source of potential new peat fields, concerning the use of natural Completion for Maintaining to avoid extraction from bogs with resources within mires and their Biodiversity” was successfully high conservation values. However, surroundings; implemented. the Ministry did not find enough • to provide local people living in juridical founding to establish it as a the surroundings of mires with This project was principally a ministerial regulation and it worked an overview concerning the continuation of the project “Estonian thus only on recommendation level. future of those wetlands and Wetlands Conservation and thus enabling people to have Management Strategy” accomplished The general aim of the present some perspective views and in 1997 (Paal et al., 1998) which inventory project was to complete confidence in the future of concentrated only on larger mires, the inventory of all mires in Estonia, their home (milieu) and while most of protected mires were and on the basis of these results to community. disregarded. The conclusions of the develop a national strategy for mire 1997 inventory included certain management. The results of the The organization responsible for proposals for an addition of wetlands project will be: the project was the Estonian Fund with high conservation value to the for Nature in co-operation with the protected areas network. • to obtain source data for Environmental Board. The project optimizing the network of was financially supported through In the following years a lot of such protected mires; the European Enviroment Agency proposals have been realized by the • to enable wise and sustainable (EEA) and Norway Grants, but also Government of Estonia, largely in use of peat as a natural resource by the Estonian Environmental the course of implementation of the by producing objective primary Investment Centre and Mr. Ahti EU Habitats Directive. On the basis material for planning of peat use Heinla. Altogether 110 experts and of these results, a preliminary list of on both regional and time level; 42 assistants participated in the field mires with low conservation value • to help local municipalities work. was compiled as well. This list, later and different governmental discussed and developed together departments in the process of For the inventory, field worksheets with the Estonian Ministry of the issuing relevant permissions, were used in which inter alia the

20 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 present inventory, mires form at least habitats remains relatively high. Left page: A transitional mire in 233,000 ha or 5.2% of our territory. The results concerning the estimates good natural state. Mahtra mire. Adding numerous tiny (less than 0.5 of global assessment (conservation Photo: Jaanus Paal. ha) mires which were not inspected, importance) are quite similar to and those mire habitats which occur those of the conservation status. as marginal patches within other There are only two site types in habitats (and the surfaces of which which habitats of high conservation following characters were examined are calculated among the surfaces of importance form less than half of and respective assessments given: the latter ones), the total coverage of the total surface of the respective

mires in Estonia may reach to ~5.5% site type: poor fens (46%) and • Estonian habitat site type of the territory (240,000–245,000 minerotrophic quagmires (48%). The (according to Paal, 1997); ha). In any case, the remaining 17% percentage for heath moors (51%) • Natura 2000 habitat type; are covered by paludifying grasslands is comparable with the latter ones. • state and composition of shrub and forests, peatland forests, Habitats with high conservation and tree layers; degraded peatlands and other importance of other site types form • human impact (incl. drainage, (former) peatlands. 72-90% of the total surface of each mowing, grazing, burning); site type. • nature conservation values (plant The surface of the majority of mire community status, flora and site types in Estonia has decreased In comparison with the total surface aesthetical value, other values - during the last 60 years 2.6-2.8 times: covered by habitats of different mire hydrological, fauna, recreative, from 642,200 hectares to 232,900 site types, the area of respective didactic, etc.); (-245,000) hectares. protected mires varies by site types • representativity of habitat; from 42% to 81%. Thus, mire habitats • global assessment (importance By different site types, the are protected in Estonia much more for nature conservation). conservation status of 67-95% of sufficiently than some grassland the inspected mires was assessed or fresh forest habitat types. We On the other side of the worksheets to be excellent or high. This result can also admit the high global the standard registration list of proceeds from the fact that due assessment values of the already the Estonian flora was printed for to the direct or indirect impact of protected mires, which means recording plant species and their human activities numerous mires that the network of the Estonian abundance values. Text: Jaanus Paal, Eerik Leibak have been covered by a dense tree protected areas has been established layer (allogenic successions have deliberately. Nevertheless, for every During two field work periods 13,901 been taking place) and those habitats mire site type there were discovered peatlands were inspected, on the with low conservation status are some additional areas with high basis of which 13,850 data sheets often not qualified as mires any conservation value, addition of which were added into the database. more but as peatland forests. In that to the existing network of protected Most of these concern mires (8,676 way, the total number and surface areas should be solved in the nearest sheets), others represent paludifying of mires are decreasing but the future. Moreover, some mires are grasslands and forests, peatland conservation status of extant mire protected only partially at present. forests, floodplain habitats, drained (decomposed) peatlands, etc.

Conclusions on assessment of habitats

All peatlands together cover 1,009,101 ha or 22.3% of Estonian territory (Orru, 1995). According to the

Numerous mires are influenced by beavers damming up the streams. Karula National Park. Photo: Jaanus Paal

21 Spring fens are very sensitive to human impact. Tatra spring fen. Photo: Jaanus Paal

done), and though Estonian mire habitat types are mostly listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive, it is clear that not all valuable sites are of equal importance. It has often happened that a lot of attention is paid and finances applied to keep a single representative of a certain habitat type in a country (region), not asking whether habitats of the same type could be common in other countries (regions). Estimates of mire areas within the mentioned types 7160 and 7230. Sites of Community Importance The present occurrence of these And, vice versa, a country (region) (SCIs) have been previously assessed habitat types within the SCIs – 48% may be heedless of those habitat by the Estonian Ministry of the and 65%, respectively – may formally types which are very widespread and Environment. For the majority of the seem sufficient, but habitats of these common within it but not in other habitat types, their estimates of the two types are the most threatened countries. Therefore it should be total surface differ noticeably from in Estonia. From the hydrological recommended to widen the concept the results of the present survey, point of view, only less than 25% of responsibility species also to but percentages of inclusion of areas of spring fens and less than 10% of responsibility habitats. into the SCIs coincide pretty well for the species-rich alkaline fens were the majority of the habitat types. stated to be in more or less natural Estonia has a large number of mires The only exceptions are types 7160 conditions (Ilomets, 1994) and their of international importance: for (Fennoscandian mineral-rich springs favourable conservation status example, some of the largest and and spring-fens) and 7230 (alkaline cannot be guaranteed outside the most intact boreo-nemoral raised fens) for which the earlier estimates Natura 2000 network. bogs and rich (calcareous) fens which of protection have been remarkably are valuable in an all-European overestimated. Though the Natura 2000 network has context. By the total surface of all been established to protect different active raised bogs, Estonia holds The occurrence of habitat types rare and/or threatened habitats on the third place in Europe after within the SCIs is mostly higher than larger (European) scale than only Sweden and Latvia, even in absolute 60% and, according to the traditions within one state (as it is too often numbers. However, the number of the European Commission, they are considered as sufficiently represented. We may largely recognize such a conclusion and do not foresee large-scale establishment of additional sites for most of the mire habitat types in the future.

However, there are two mire habitat types for which a number of additional sites are to be designated: the

In north eastern Estonia large mire areas have been dramatically destroyed by oil shale quarries. Photo: Jaanus Paal

22 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 and surface of large bogs is much lower in Latvia (comparable to the situation in southeastern Estonia) and e.g. in southern Finland the pressure of amelioration and other human impacts have been much more intensive than in Estonia. Therefore Estonia (together with Sweden) turns out to be the main responsible country for preserving large bogs within the European Union.

Habitat types 7160 (Fennoscandian mineral-rich springs and spring-fens) and 7230 (alkaline fens) might also become candidates of responsibility habitats for Estonia, especially due to the rarity of intact calcareous Mixotrophic quagmires also belong to the threatened habitat type. Karula habitats in most of the other at the present. The remaining National Park. Photo: Jaanus Paal countries of the Boreal bioregion. bogs (ca 35,000 ha) cover an Even Estonian Cladium mariscus fens area that is larger than has (type 7210) almost lacking in 2/3 of been used by peat producers the country, will occupy the 3rd place during all the industrial history of Literature in Europe after France and Sweden Estonia. The results of the present by their total surface. inventory will help to select the Ilomets, M. 1994. Miks peame hoidma Eestimaa soid? – Eesti Loodus, No 3: areas with lower conservation value 80-83. The main threat to Estonian mires for economic usage and enable to Orru, M. 1995. Eesti turbasood. Eesti has come and will still come from find a compromise between nature Geoloogiakeskus, Tallinn. drainage activities. It has been much conservationists and peat producers. Paal, J. 1997. Eesti taimkatte kasvukohatüüpide klassifikatsioon. easier to seek compromises between Classification of Estonian vegetation site conservationists and peat producers, The full description and results of the types. Eesti Keskkonnaministeerium & than between environmental project (Paal & Leibak, 2011) can be UNEP, Tallinn. authorities and amelioration ordered for postal charges from the Paal, J., Ilomets, M., Fremstad, E., Moen, A., Børset, E., Kuusemets, V., societies/bureaus. Drainage is usually Estonian Fund for Nature, Truus, L. & Leibak, E. 1998. Estonian not subject to the environment [email protected]. Wetlands Inventory 1997. Publication impact assessment obligation yet. of the Project „Estonian Wetlands Jaanus Paal Conservation and Management”. Eesti Loodusfoto, Tartu. In order to sustain the use of Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Estonia Paal, J. & Leibak, E. 2011. Estonian Mires: peat and preserve valuable sites, email: [email protected] Inventory of Habitats. Publication of the Estonian State Audit Office the Project „Estonian Mires Inventory suggested in 2005 to the Ministry Eerik Leibak Completion for Maintaining Biodiversity”. Regio Ltd., Tartu. of the Environment to stop the Estonian Fund for Nature issuing of new permissions for mining regarding mires or their parts which have not been mined so far. To dissolve this static situation we need an agreement, concluded on as large a social and scientific basis as possible, which mires are necessary to be preserved and which of them will be left free for admissible human activities. More than 115,000 ha of the total area of bogs are situated within different protected areas

When mowing has ceased, the paludifying grasslands and fens with a shallow peat layer will grow over with bushes. Photo: Jaanus Paal

23 Workshop on Peat and Humic Substances in Zittau, Germany Current research in chemical, physical and biological characterization of peat

Text: Yvonne Seel

A small group of about thirty International Graduate School (IHI) scientists and researchers Zittau who also provided the venue. from Germany, Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Russia and Before the official start, the the Netherlands met in Zittau, workshop participants had the Germany to discuss their chance to walk around Zittau’s town latest research results in peat centre. In a 1.5 hour guided tour, characterization. the sights of the 1255 founded town in the border triangle of Germany, At the end of September 2011, IPS Poland and Czech Republic, were Commission IV and the Section IV visited. of the German Peat Society (DGMT) held the Workshop ‘Peat and Humic The Workshop started on 28 Substances’ in Zittau, Germany. September with a public lecture Discussions under the topic ‘Current about the Lusatian Peatlands research in chemical, physical and in the silvics system by Rainer biological characterization of peat’ Gemballa from the Public Enterprise included new findings in peat and Sachsenforst, Germany. Mr. humic substance analysis. Gemballa’s talk was well attended, both by workshop participants and The workshop was organized by the interested citizens of Zittau. Institute of Process Development, Zittau’s International Graduate School was Peat and Natural Products (iTN) of The lecture was followed by the venue of the conference. the University of Applied Sciences poster presentation and a ‘Get Photo: Monika Guhr Zittau/Görlitz in cooperation with the together’ where, for example,

current conditions of fens in the Stolowe Mountains National Park in Poland were discussed as well as the characterization of dissolved organic carbon extracted with HWS from some Hungarian soils.

The second day started with a keynote lecture by Māris Kļaviņš from the University of Latvia. He spoke on peat and their humic matter properties and new areas of application. Following, in different presentations peat types in concepts

The participants during the field trip of the workshop. Photo: Monika Guhr

24 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 and trends and their optimization day’s keynote for the isolation of humic substances lecture was held were discussed and experiences by Christian E. W. exchanged. Furthermore, the Steinberg from interaction of humic acids with the Humboldt- actinides was presented. The Universität zu focus here was on the influence of Berlin, who heteroatomic functional groups, spoke about other than carboxylic groups. inducible gene Another discussed topic during expression as During the workshop. that morning session was the response to Photo: Yvonne Seel hydrochemical indicators of runoff humic exposure formation in mountainous peatlands and went into detail from genes of temperate climate. to functions in short-lived animals. pointed out the phosphate sorption Afterwards, a paper on the influence capacity of peat materials. In the afternoon, we visited the of extracellular fungal peroxidases nature reserve ‘Dubringer Moor’ in on recalcitrant biopolymers was In his final words, Prof. Schoenherr, Northern Saxony. A local guide gave presented and discussed. The rest Chair of Commission IV, invited an introduction into the unique flora of the morning featured talks on everybody to the upcoming and fauna at different habitats of the UV-protective effect of humic International Peat Congress 2012 the percolation bog. He also spoke substances. All presentations were in Stockholm, Sweden and to the about the ongoing renaturation but lively discussed. next Workshop Peat and Humic also pointed out former and current Substances in Zittau, Germany, which damages and hazards to the bog. In the afternoon the focus was is planned for 2014. After returning from the field trip, more on peat materials and soils. everybody was invited to a dinner Decomposition stability of selected Yvonne Seel reception with typical Lusatian food. fen soils depending on substrate Institute of Process Development, Peat quality was presented whereas the and Natural Products (iTN) University of Applied Sciences On Friday, 30 September, the final presentation by György Füleky Zittau/Görlitz, Germany scientific sessions continued. This from Szent István University, Hungary email: [email protected] HORTIFIBRE® the green choice

In order to comply with a sustainable is therefore neutral and it complies with the requirements of the management of peat resources, think most famous European certification bodies. HORTIFIBRE®! Two patented processes permit densities to be adjusted, allowing for Peat shortages, environmental preser- either reduced or increased fiber diameter and moisture retention. vation and carbon balance requirements This enables savings on logistic costs and soil blending. Furthermore, naturally qualify HORTIFIBRE® to be the HORTIFIBRE® is compressible for easy transportation and packaging. unescapable raw material for substrate These are both ecologic and economic advantages. manufacturing. In 2010, over 500 000 m3 (650 000 yd3) of HORTIFIBRE® wood fiber is a raw material specially designed for HORTIFIBRE® have been produced in Europe horticultural purposes. It is issued from a process which consists in for growing media manufacturing. crushing wood chips. Its agronomic properties make it an excellent HORTIFIBRE® can be supplied all over completion for peat. It can also displace bark completely. Europe in bulk or in compressed bales. In HORTIFIBRE® is a sustainable material as it is entirely renewable and addition, FLORENTAISE also offers turnkey comes from unused material in the wood industry. Its carbon impact units and manufacturing licenses.

25 FLORENTAISE - Le Grand Pâtis - 44850 Saint Mars du Désert - FRANCE Nicolas Charron – [email protected] – Tél. : +33 (0)6 75 14 71 71

15426_AP_210x148,5.indd 1 24/06/11 10:34 Text and photos: Susann Warnecke Baltic Peat Producers’ Forum 2011 brings more than 200 peat experts to Riga

Already for the 11th time, peat options and activities in her country. Gunilla Öberg from Sweden took the producers from Estonia, Latvia The programme continued with opportunity to invite all present to and Lithuania met for the presentations by Juris Nusbaums on the International Peat Congress in annual Baltic Peat Producers’ peatland recultivation in Latvia, Dr. Stockholm next year. Forum - this time in Riga, the Romas Pakalnis on possibilities of beautiful capital of Latvia, cutover bogs in Lithuania and Prof. Last, but not least, Georgijs Sicovs to discuss “After-use of cut- Janus Paal on sustainable use and reported about the application of over peatlands: measures and protection of Estonian mires. After radiolocation for geological mapping methods” on 14-16 September. that, Dr. Mara Pakalne gave more of peatlands, Kanstantsin Pachepka details on raised bog spoke about Vitebskoblgas’ new restoration in Latvia. peat factory, Rob van Rijnswou from Slootweg Machinefabriek gave advice Later during the day, on fire safety, Marc Peray introduced Bernd Hofer from Premier Tech Chronos’ new Germany spoke about technologies and Jazeps Kivlenieks long-time after-use spoke about SIA Agrovita. The experiences in Germany presentations can be downloaded at and Hein Boon from the failiem.lv/u/dtzrvon and photos are Netherlands introduced available at failiem.lv/u/vnkqabc. the Dutch project for responsibly produced The following day was reserved for peat. The short, but an excursion to Amaciems, a quite interesting discussion interesting and unique holiday park thereafter was chaired surrounded by excavated peatland by Dr. Norbert Siebels lakes as well as the famous Sigulda According to the organisers, more of Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH from Nature Reserve. We thank the than 200 participants had signed Germany. organisers for all their efforts - this up for the event, which underlined was another great opportunity to the importance of this almost In the afternoon, the participants learn about peatland matters of all traditional seminar. In addition to heard reports about the peat kind, to meet colleagues and discuss representatives from the Baltics, production season 2011 from current matters. See you next year in guests came also from Belarus, Giedrius Kavaliauskas for Lithuania Estonia! Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, and Erki Niitlaan for Estonia. The Germany, the Netherlands, Russia session continued with Prof. Maris Susann Warnecke and Sweden. This shows well the Klavins’ speech on peats as sorbents, [email protected] internationalisation and vertical and Oskars Purmalis’ expansion of the peat and growing report on humic media sector. acids in peat and their application. The Forum was opened by Ivans Cupruns, Chairman of the Board Following that, of the Latvian Peat Producer’s presentations Association, and Rolands Bebris were given by from the Latvian Ministry of Valery Kovalov Environmental Protection and of Beltopgas and Regional Development. Greetings D. Sc. Academician from the International Peat Society Ivan Lishtvan on peat were brought by Secretary General resources and their Jaakko Silpola, after which Prof. utilisation in Belarus, Laimdota Kalnina from the University after which Marie of Latvia spoke about after-use Kofod-Hansen and

26 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Visions and Visionaries at the 46th German Peat and Humus Day in Bad Zwischenahn Text and photos: Susann Warnecke

Man who introduced the Dutch Kalloveen, the Netherlands, took the Stephan Patzer. sustainability project for peat and opportunity to discuss the efficiency their project of different after-use opportunities group’s efforts for cutover bogs, for instance bog for a certification restoration by spreading suitable system for peat Sphagnum fragments on rewetted to the interested areas. audience. Aidan Campion and The seminar day was followed by Munoo Prasad a delicious dinner in the famous of Bord na Móna Spieker restaurant where discussions continued with continued until late into the night. the properties of Thanks to the organisers and Irish peat when sponsors of this interesting day! used in growing The 46th Annual media. More information on the Seminar of the Industrieverband Garten and their German peat and Johannes Welsch. Especially events can be found at www.ivg.org. growing media interesting was producers, the Deutscher Torf- the following presentation by Dr. Axel Susann Warnecke und Humustag, took place in Precker on mires and peat reserves IPS Communications Manager Bad Zwischenahn in Lower in Western Siberia. After that, Georg [email protected] Saxony on 27 October 2011. Embert from the German Federal The conference was held in Ministry of Food, Agriculture German, but attended by many and Consumer Protection international specialists, too. discussed different aspects when harmonising legislation and rules The seminar day was opened for goods being traded within the by Stephan Patzer, Chair of the European Union. Working Group on Growing Media, Potting Soils and Constituents of Karin Luyten-Naujoks of the the Industrieverband Garten (IVG), Bundesgütegemeinschaft Kompost the main organiser of the event. He explained advantages and was joined by IVG Chief Executive disadvantages of Johannes Welsch in moderating thermal vs. organic the presentations and guiding the utilization of green following discussions. waste in her speech. This was continued by Visions were the main topic of the Prof. Dr. Elke Meinken seminar - and the question how from Hochschule to recognise and foster visions Weihenstephan- and visionaries was skillfully Triesdorf who raised introduced by psychologist the question whether Stephan Meyer of Denkstelle residues from biofuel Unternehmensentwicklung. After plants can be used to these inspiring thoughts, Paul Waller replace peat in certain from the United Kingdom raised circumstances. more serious issues by speaking about the tightening situation of peat At the end of the and its use in horticulture in the UK. conference, Herman He was followed by Dr. Reinier de Oosterkamp of

27 Sphagnum farming workshop in the Canadian Maritimes: A chance to overview the international research efforts and challenges

Text:Josée Landry, Rémy Pouliot, Greta Gaudig, Sabine Wichmann and Line Rochefort

There is a growing worldwide A total of 21 participants coming were also considered (examples on interest to grow Sphagnum fibres from Europe and Canada with Fig. 2). on a renewable basis. The various different backgrounds (science, peat requests received from different industry, nature conservation) took To illustrate the progress made by parts of the world over the past five part in this interactive workshop the Canadian group, the Sphagnum years on how best to grow Sphagnum dedicated to exchange on the farming station in Shippagan, New prompted the Peatland Ecology advancements, ideas and challenges Brunswick was visited at the end of Research Group (PERG) to organize of Sphagnum farming. the first day (Fig. 3). The participants a workshop to assess the progress were able to compare the evolution made since the first Sphagnum All participants were invited to bring of the different large scale production workshop hosted in Bremen, slides of their subjects of predilection cycles, created 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 years Germany in 2005. to stimulate the discussions ago, as well as earlier during the within a structured framework of summer 2011. To end the workshop General description of the questions. Since the most intensive pleasantly, participants were taken workshop investigations on Sphagnum farming on a field trip to the beautiful island have been conducted so far by of Miscou, where they were able to The second Sphagnum farming research groups in Canada and enjoy the view of the ocean and to workshop was held in the Canadian Germany, those participants gave visit a unique coastal bog (Fig. 4). Maritimes, more specifically in the most input to the workshop, but Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick works done by Chilean, Finnish, What was the main message of on 20th and 21st June 2001 (Fig. 1). Japanese and South Korean groups each session?

1) How to favour rapid establishment of a Sphagnum carpet?

This session started by addressing one of the first questions that comes to mind when starting a Sphagnum culture: Which species to favour? This choice is obviously strongly dependent on what species are native or available where the Sphagnum farming is taking place, as well as the final use of the Sphagnum fibre. If Sphagnum is used for restoration, then the species of the Acutifolia section (such as Sphagnum fuscum or S. rubellum) can be

Fig. 1: One discussion session during the Sphagnum workshop. Photo: Francis Muller

28 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Fig. 2: Examples of Sphagnum farming around the world. Japan on the left-top side, South Korea on the right-top side, Chile favoured since they regenerate well on the left-bottom side and Canada on the right-bottom side. and are relatively tolerant to drier Photos: Yoshikazu Hoshi (left top) and Line Rochefort (others). conditions.

However, if Sphagnum fibres are to be added in growing media, those Another question regarding the A wet year with well-distributed rain Sphagna with good absorbency, species is whether to use mono- events of more than 2 mm is optimal stability and providing good structure specific species or mixtures for the establishment of Sphagnum should be prioritized. In that of species to promote rapid mosses. case, Sphagnum from the section establishment of the Sphagnum Sphagnum (as S. magellanicum) carpet. First, if the hydrology can A lot of efforts are made to optimize seems more appropriate since these be accurately controlled, it is easier the conditions under which broad leaf species have very good to do mono-specific cultures even Sphagnum is cultivated. Sphagnum absorbent and physical properties. with less tolerant species. In optimal can efficiently grow on numerous Sphagnum from the section conditions, when water is near or substrates. Good results have been Cuspidata (as S. cuspidatum) are not equal to the surface, Sphagnum obtained on black peat, blond/white an interesting choice, as they grow magellanicum and S. papillosum do peat, floating mats and even on clay. fast but also tend to decompose not establish better if accompanied The substrate is not that important quickly. Few studies have yet focused by other Sphagnum species. but the humidity on the interface is on the comparison of performances crucial. It appears that even when between the various Sphagnum However, when water access is the water level is very high as on species in growing media. Although limited, S. magellanicum and S. floating mats, the addition of straw it appeared that S. affine is a good papillosum establish better when mulch still has a positive effect candidate, S. fimbriatum performs accompanied by species of the on Sphagnum establishment and as well as Sphagnum from the Acutifolia section. As the first two growth. Sphagnum taxonomical section years of establishment are crucial when it comes to plant growth for Sphagnum growth, weather has Under acidic conditions, Sphagnum when these species are added to a major role to play in the success of can support surprisingly high growing media. Sphagnum carpet establishment. conductivities, as proven by studies

29 Fig. 3: A visit at the Sphagnum farming station in Shippagan, New Brunswick. Photo: Line Rochefort Sphagnum fragments, cover with straw mulch and control water). in abandoned mining lakes. As long preparing for the opening of a However, a challenge is to find the as the pH is between 3 and 6, that Sphagnum farming station: optimal combination of machinery, the conductivity stays below 500µS/ as it has to be adapted to the field it cm and that the water level is kept 1. Evaluate if a proper water supply is used on (Fig. 5). high, Sphagnum should grow. It is is available. The chances of to be noted that, regardless of the efficiently controlling water are 3) How to increase the accumulation species, the quality of the fibres for increasing with a good automatic rate of Sphagnum carpets? after use will strongly be influenced water control pumping system. by the type of harvest and time of 2. Ensure that the In the context of Sphagnum farming, harvest (prioritize drier periods). evapotranspiration on site is controlling the hydrology is really as low as possible as well as 2) How to optimize operations on a the infiltration, in order to large scale for a farming system? limit water losses. Measuring hydraulic conductivity can In regions where Sphagnum mosses give a good idea of water are rare, greenhouse production of movements and ultimately of Sphagnum propagules, either by how much water will remain spores or fragments, is an interesting on site. option. Spores germinate well and 3. Identify the initial conditions form more vigorous individuals, but of the site: peat stratigraphy, recovery of spore material can be soil chemistry, peat depth, a challenge. Fragments are easy to water direction, presence of produce and form new stems on existing vegetation. peat or when submerged in aerated 4. For better management, solution. knowing the exact area available for culture and the distance When large scale Sphagnum farming to the processing plant is also is considered, preliminary inventories important. and measurements should be conducted to ensure that everything The main steps to establish large is in place for a successful culture. scale Sphagnum farming follow the Sphagnum moss transfer method Here are the main aspects that used for restoration (refresh surface, should be taken into account when collect Sphagnum fragments, spread

30 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Fig. 4: View of Miscou coastal bog. Photo: Francis Muller

the key to obtain optimal biomass accumulation rates. Under optimal conditions of humidity, the addition of vertical structures (ex: wooden sticks) does not increase biomass accumulation. However, the presence of structures enhances growth and biomass accumulation under low humidity conditions by creating favourable microclimates the Sphagnum fibre produced is Water level has much more influence and providing growth support used for restoration. Conversely, on Sphagnum biomass accumulation (Figure 6: example of greenhouse when Sphagnum fibres are used in than fertilization. Fertilizing with experiment about structure growing media or as floral moss, nitrogen or phosphorus promotes addition). the presence of vascular plants length increment, but not biomass becomes problematic, because the accumulation. Fertilizing is useful in On floating mats, structures have material needs to be sorted out. In the context where Sphagnum is used been proven useful since they keep that situation, easily removable inert for restoration because it facilitates the fragments in place. Vascular structures should be considered. vascular plants and Polytrichum plants providing structures can which are desirable species for be interesting in situations where As for Sphagnum establishment, restoration. However, this is not the mono-specific culture case when producing Sphagnum for is more interesting growing media or floral moss. when water supply is sufficient. In other Weed control is a concern for cases, mixing Sphagnum Sphagnum farming, because the species can promote removal of these undesirables is biomass accumulation. not that easy. Trials of repeated However, if Sphagnum mulching did not give any interesting magellanicum or S. results. For tussock forming species, papillosum are targeted, repeated cutting starting right before mixing them with seed formation and a second time competitive species, as in autumn with a trimmer seems S. rubellum, might not be helpful. More investigation must the best idea. still be conducted to find the most efficient techniques, but a starting material as exempt of weeds as possible will facilitate weed control for the beginning. Fig. 5: Spreading Sphagnum fragments with a lateral manure Other uninvited guests can spreader in former block cut sometimes occur in Sphagnum peatlands in Canadian Sphagnum farming experimental station. cultures, such as birds, mammals, Photo: Josée Landry algae, fungi and signs of chlorosis. The workshop participants tried

31 of what came up: floral moss; addition in growing media; pure Sphagnum as a growing substrate; packaging for mailing of special flowers, small mammals, vegetables, etc.; orchid propagation; specialised products such as peat pots made of H1 to H3 peat; vegetation walls; sculpture ornaments or specialized gardening; and diaspores for restoration of abandoned peatlands.

One of the questions in this discussion was if Sphagnum material would cause N-immobilization for horticultural plants. This hypothesis has been tested and in the trials no immobilization of nitrogen was observed, even a small delivery was noted.

Storage of fresh material has also been a subject of discussion. It seems that storage at 4°C or below zero are two efficient ways. It could also be interesting to compress the material in a way to diminish its volume. Still, trials are needed. When storing important quantities of Sphagnum, it is important to avoid overheating by making relatively large piles of material.

Interesting future research questions have emerged on how to process the material. Thresholds about the quantity of shrubs, sedges, herbs and Polytrichum that are acceptable in growing media have to be known Fig. 6: Example of greenhouse (Fig. 8). Also, technical possibilities to experiments on structure addition sort and separate the material have to favour Sphagnum growth in a to be developed. context of biomass production. In order to promote biomass Photo: Rémy Pouliot accumulation, finding ways to slow 5) To what extend is Sphagnum down decomposition rates is a farming economically feasible? very crucial avenue and phenolic to understand the phenomenon rich material have the potential The implementation of a Sphagnum behind the presence of chlorosis in doing so. To conclude, there is farming culture requires some on Sphagnum in a controlled still a lot of interesting avenues to investments, especially for the environment (Fig. 7). Few hypotheses explore. Studies of eco-hydrology damming system (if farming is done have emerged. at micro scale have to be promoted on peatlands formerly harvested by to push further investigations vacuum), for water control devices, When Sphagnum is watered by the on evapotranspiration versus for maintenance, for adapted top under a very strong sun, leaves precipitation. machinery, for harvest and for the can burn. In the greenhouse, since conditioning of final Sphagnum the water level is always kept high, 4) What are the advancements in end biomass. the Sphagnum might be pumping a products research? large quantity of water by capillarity, The incomes will mainly depend on causing the accretion of minerals on The participants made a concerted the productivity of the culture, on Sphagnum tips. Investigation is still effort to list the end product special markets and on valuation or needed to solve this problem. possibilities and here is an overview remuneration of ecosystem services

32 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Fig. 7: Dead Sphagnum tips by what appears to be a stress of growing in a controlled environment under a too great evaporative demand. Photo: Line Rochefort

What’s next?

The international dialog about all aspects of Sphagnum farming will be continued, next with the Sphagnum farming session at the 14th International Peat Congress 2012 in Stockholm where the next workshop is planned to be organized.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to sincerely (for example: Carbon certificate or preserving peat as archives, etc.). thank all the participants for making Sphagnum as agricultural plants). As with any activities occurring in this Sphagnum farming workshop a In the end, economical feasibility peatlands, people involved have productive and successful event. The of Sphagnum farming is directly to be careful to avoid negative PERG would also like to thank the related to the market and to society environmental impacts such as sponsors for this event: Fafard Peat decisions. changes in water chemistry (DOC, Moss, Acadian Peat Moss and ASB suspended solids, phosphorus, etc.) Greenworld. 6) What are the potential that can have repercussions on environmental impacts? receiving watercourses. Josée Landry, Rémy Pouliot, Impacts on environment will Defining Sphagnum farming Greta Gaudig, Sabine Wichmann depend on the starting point of and Line Rochefort Peatland Ecology Research Group the Sphagnum farming. Benefits or Through the discussions and with Département de Phytologie, F.S.A.A. repercussions of that kind of culture the help of all participants, we gave Pavillon Comtois, Local 3401 will not be the same according to the a first attempt to define the term 2425, Rue de l’Agriculture country where Sphagnum farming Sphagnum farming jointly, and Université Laval Québec G1V 0A6, Canada is done. Here are a few examples of as a basis for further discussions: emails: [email protected] potential positive impacts that could ‘Production and harvest of Sphagnum [email protected] come out from Sphagnum farming: fibre on a cyclical basis over a given area.’ 1. a possible carbon storage system, 2. a contribution to biodiversity conservation, 3. a diminution of the pressure on natural ecosystems and 4. an end of degradation of peatlands in some regions.

Sphagnum farming can also provide services such as provision (sustainable), habitat (for rare species), regulation (for water balance) and cultural services (conservation of open landscapes,

Fig. 8: Example of a Sphagnum carpet with the presence of Polytrichum and vascular plants that would potentially have to be sorted out in order to add the Sphagnum to growing media. Photo: Rémy Pouliot

33 Use of Ukrainian Peat: Problems and Prospects in Energy and Horticulture

Text: Volodymyr Hnieushev, Fig. 6: Volodymyr Hnieushev on a peatland where production stopped 30 years ago. Oleksander Stadnik The process of peat formation and peat Photos: Volodymyr Hnieushev accumulation has resumed successfully.

Ukraine is the most southern The average ash-content of 76.8% natural stimulator which can be used European country where of the reserves was analyzed by for the structure forming regulation peat resources have an the authors and it was discovered of poor humus soils. They improve industrial value: the geological that 52.2% of them have an water, air and nourishing regimes reserves of peat are estimated unstandardized ash-content for fuels, of the fertile soil. Sprinkling in small near 2.17 billion tonnes. higher than 23%. doses for plants, of the humic matter The comparatively warm with Na, produces a considerable climate activates processes During many decades, the peat in increase of crop. of disintegration of organic Ukraine was utilized in two main matter of the peat-forming directions: as a fuel and as a basis So, why is raised bog peat more plants, being the main reason for compost making. Tens of tonnes widespread and popular? There for the high rate of decay. were brought into every hectare are a couple of reasons, but one of the existing fields, for improving of them is very significant: raised The character of the water feed to the fertility properties of the bog peat has a lower potential to a wetland and the composition of soils. Presently, peat-based fuel is become dense, which allows roots’ its plant vegetation are the main produced mainly in the form of peat aeration to last longer. Fen peat factors in the formation of fen peat: briquettes. Peat pellets have not such has the property to become more amounting to 96% of the general a popularity among producers. The compacted after watering, and that balance. Ground waters, which are production of composts was almost increases clogging. Due to these rich in mineral salts are first forming shut down due to high transportation factors, the ability of air to penetrate a mineral constituent of plants, and expenses to the fields. into the peat decreases dramatically, afterwards the peat matter. which, as a result, slows down the Peat use in horticulture and its growth of the plants. Our producers Many peat deposits are forming challenges found a way to prevent the process and developing on the floodplains of compaction of peat by adding of rivers. Water from these rivers, In Ukraine, fen peat is a base for anti-compaction materials, such as especially in the period of spring fertile soils for horticulture. Fen peat bark from trees, sand and zeolites. flooding, is bringing a lot of mineral has one big advantage above widely Zeolites are natural minerals with a particles into the peat deposit from world known, raised bog (white) micro cellular molecular structure, the nearby territories. All factors peat: fen peat has 1.5-2 times more which have good absorption and above explain the high ash-content of humic matters compared to the ion-exchange properties. Ukraine Ukrainian peat. raised bog peat. Humic matter is a has a large deposit of zeolites in the

34 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Fig. 1: Anti-compression materials which improve the ability of air to penetrate into the peat: Zakarpatja District and therefore is a - sand; b - bark; c - zeolite. not difficult to buy this inexpensive material for the above stated purposes. by one of authors of this article. This the wood pellets increases their equation demonstrates the negative water resistance considerably. Wood The consumers can prepare a influence of the ash-content (Ad) on pellets and mixed pellets from wood mixture of peat and anti-compaction the heating value (LHV) of peat as a and fen peat were submerged in materials by themselves or just use working fuel: water for a couple of minutes, then a prepared mixture (Fig. 2). Thus, removed and dried. Wood pellets fell the use of anti-compaction materials LHV = 11.60 – 0.14∙Аd, MJ/kg. apart immediately but dried pellets allows extending considerably the that were made from a mixture of ways of use of fen peat for fruits During the many years of activity wood and peat remained unchanged. and vegetable growing. All people of the Ukrainian peat industry, only Besides that, their moisture content who are involved in horticulture those peat deposits with low ash increased insignificantly. These know that humic matter, the natural content were extracted. This is why factors are significantly saving component of fen peat, allows fast considerable reserves of peatlands fuel quality, for instance during growing of plants. were classified as unpromising. transportation and storage in high However, the demand for local fuels humidity. Energy peat is a motivator to use now peat even with a high ash-content. Today’s fuels Fuel pellets and briquettes are mainly Good energy peat is based on dense, in Ukraine are made from a mixture produced for the public sector. highly decomposed peat. However, of peat and wood or different types However, some countries are using as mentioned above, Ukrainian peat of biomass. In this case, fen peat is milled peat and a mixture of wood has a high ash-content which reduces being used as a binding component. waste as a biofuel in power plants. the heat of combustion of the peat Such projects are under construction fuel. On the basis of an analysis of 17 The addition of peat increases the in Ukraine as well. The leader of this peat deposits, an equation was made strength of fuel briquettes and pellets. By our observation, an addition of 30% and more peat to Fig. 2: Mixture of zeolite Fig. 3: Taking samples of fen peat, and peat for horticulture. the ash can be seen as river sand.

35 is concentrated The efficiency of the tested methods Fig. 4: Layer of sand in the 0.1-1.0 is satisfying for the use in production in the peat deposit. mm grade. The terms, but it is necessary to search ash-content for new efficient methods of peat which can with a high ash-content. The authors be achieved of this article are heavily involved during mineral in these investigations, and are processing planning to present more detailed of the peat is results of their experiments during 10-14%. The the sessions of International Peat conducted Congress of IPS in Stockholm. So experiments far it is possible simply to say that showed both “problems” of Ukrainian peat that air flow are successfully overcome by using separation innovative methods and technologies mineral – and that Ukrainian peat has a good processing prospect for many uses. trend is a young Ukrainian energy achieved half of the potential of that company, “Green Energy T.” In process. Literature collaboration with Finnish colleagues, the company is already working on Therefore, at the present time, a Стадник О.С., Гнєушев В.О. the construction of several power large amount of work is focused at Використання торфових ресурсів України з урахуванням їх балансу у facilities in Ukraine. For those the improvement of techniques and природі. / Проблеми раціонального projects and under these conditions, technologies of a air flow separation використання соціально-економічного it is very important to provide mineral processing of peat and other та природно-ресурсного потенціалу enough fuel with a low ash-content. dry methods. регіону: фінансова політика та інвестиції. - Зб. наук. праць. – Вип. XVI Consequently, the decrease of the № 4. - Київ: СЕУ / Рівне: НУВГП, 2010. mineral content of the peat has such In our opinion, the principle - С. 480-488. importance. These minerals have a scheme of fuel production from peat Физика и химия торфа: Учеб. пособие different nature and origin, but for with a high ash-content must для вузов/ И.И. Лиштван, Е.Т. Базин, Н.И. Гамаюнов, А.А. Терентьев. - М.: most floodplain deposits, quartz sand include such technological operations Недра, 1989. - 304 с. is the main mineral component as drying, grinding, dust decreasing, Гнєушев В.О. Переробка торфу в (Fig. 3). dry mineral processing (air flow паливні брикети: Навч. посібник. - separation or friction mineral Рівне: НУВГП, 2008 р. - 212 с. Корінчук Д.М. Розробка композиційного The ash-content of Ukrainian peat processing) and pressing. In Ukraine, палива на основі торфу і рослинної makes some hope for its effective the process of mineral processing of біомаси для використання в mineral processing by excluding peat with a high ash-content will теплоенергетичних установках. a considerable part of the ash enable an additional use of about Автореферат дисертації на здобуття наукового ступеня кандидата elements. The authors of this article 0.3 billion tonnes of peat for the технічних наук. - К.: Інститут технічної got a result that 40-50% of peat ash energy sector. теплофізики НАН України. 2010. 20 с.

Volodymyr Hnieushev (left) and Oleksander Stadnik Department of Mineral Deposits National University of Water Management and Nature Resources Use Fig. 5: Oleksandr Stadnik in a Soborna st., 11 typical Ukrainian peatland. Rivne 33028, Ukraine email: [email protected]

36 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Griendtsveen AG’s fully automated peat briquette production line is a success!

Text and photo: Jan Schram

In Germany, peat harvesting not easily release its moisture! Many small problems, everything looked is only permitted on heavily tests were carried out with different promising. Then we started to degraded peatlands, which dryer types. After evaluating the do extensive duration tests. We are in agricultural use. Before drying results with a belt-dryer, a found out that various different starting the peat extraction, drum-dryer and a feed-and-turn- parameters determine the quality of the top spade depth (spit) has dryer, the feed-and-turn-dryer came the drying and briquetting process: to be removed to get a clean out as the winner. humidity of the peat, type of peat, surface to produce peat for available heat from the CHP plant, high added value application in Another challenge was the feeding outside temperature, outside horticulture. system for the dryer. For economical humidity etc. We succeeded in reasons, we looked for a solution developing an overall supervisory After peat extraction, the area must with a bunker, that required to be PLC (programmable logic controller) always be rewetted and rehabilitated. filled only once or twice a day and programme that adjusts speeds Also from this perspective, the top would have a capacity to feed the and airflows based on many spit has no value and is in most cases process for about 12 hours without measured process values. This not used. Quite often the top spit interruption. We developed a system way, uninterrupted production is left on the side, oxidizing slowly (patent pending!) that scrapes the is guaranteed and quality of the away. This was the reason that material from the top of the bulk and briquettes is maintained, while many Griendtsveen started two years ago works its way down to the bottom of external and internal parameters to experiment on making high quality the bunker. This proves to be a very do not have to be monitored by an peat briquettes. reliable feeding system that ensures operator. continuous feed in of homogeneous, It turned out soon that, for making loose peat. Other feeding systems Main characteristics: average briquettes with good burning tended to squeeze the peat together heat consumption: 450 kW, qualities, the peat should be really into lumps that were difficult to dry. production: 2,000 tonnes/year dry; 12% moisture content proved to be a good value. But drying peat is Drying is an energy consuming Now this process is fully developed, not easy. As we all know, peat does process. This threatened our goal to and as all children’s diseases have produce good quality been cured, the process is available peat briquettes for for the market on a commercial basis. a price that would Griendtsveen AG has co-operated be accepted by the closely with RIELA GmbH (supplier market and allows for of the drying equipment) and with a reasonable profit. Höcker-Polytechnik GmbH (supplier In our case, we are of the briquetting equipment). using residual heat. Systems supplied will be realized This heat is produced exclusively and in close co-operation as a by-product of with these partners. a biogas CHP plant (combined heat-and- At the moment we are involved in power) at a farm in a project in the Baltic region for the neighborhood. two production lines, 4,000 tonnes/ The heat is produced year each. In this project we will anyway, so why not also supply a biomass burner and use it? Good for the boiler equipment for the supply of environment the required drying energy. Peat or and good for the woodchips will be used as fuel. business case! Griendtsveen’s Director Jan Schram Guus van Berckel proudly After a long General Manager shows the peat briquettes. Gustav Bio Heat period of Saterland-Scharrel, Germany solving many email: [email protected]

37 Conference on „Necessity of Peatlands Protection” in Tlen, Bory Tucholskie, Poland

Text: Lech Wojciech Szajdak

The Polish National Committee and the Polish Committee of Land The National Park forms the core of IPS and Commission III on Reclamation and Agricultural of the Tuchola Forest Biosphere “Agricultural use of peatlands Environment Engineering of the Reserve, designated by UNESCO and peat” held an international Polish Academy of Sciences. in 2010. It covers the area of 250 conference on “Necessity of thousand ha, including forests, Peatlands Protection” in Tlen, The conference took place in the peatlands, lakes, and meadows. The Bory Tucholskie, Central Poland village of Tleń, located in the Bory Bory Tucholskie Forest shows one on 1 - 2 September 2011. Tucholskie National Park – in the of the biggest forest complexes in heart of Poland. The location of Poland. The whole area is thickly The idea of the organization of the conference was chosen due to forested (mainly pine, oak, and this conference came to life during many long-term studies held there. birch), and rich in unpolluted rivers a meeting of the Polish National The aim of the studies conducted and lakes. This area represents a Committee of IPS at the beginning in Bory Tucholskie was to learn natural habitat for a variety of plant of 2010. Several enthusiasts about biotic and abiotic processes and animal species. representing the Polish peat family and mechanisms, which proceed in supported this idea, revealed organic soils. Heterogenic properties The conference was especially great optimism and were willing to of humus in organic soils contain addressed at young scientists who realize this project. As a result, the chemical compounds characterized have been involved in peat issues conference was jointly organized by unknown and well-known recently. Fifty Polish, Estonian, together with the Institute for structures that have an impact on Russian, Belarusian, Ukrainian and Agricultural and Forest Environment the chemical, biochemical, physical Romanian scientists attended the of the Polish Academy of Sciences and biological processes in this raw conference. material. The introduction speech was given by Prof. Lech Wojciech Szajdak, Vice The participants at the venue of the conference on “Necessity of Peatlands Protection” in Tlen. Photo: Piotr Pinskwar

38 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Mire near forest reserve “Leon Wyczółkowski Old-Polish Yew Trees” in Wierzchlas. Photo: Piotr Pinskwar

Chairman of the Polish National Committee and the host of the conference. The program of the conference included oral and poster sessions and one field trip. During three sessions, distinguished leading scientists, young researchers and students presented 44 papers including 13 oral lectures and 31 posters.

Protection of peatlands

The main topics of the sessions were: (1) peatlands and farmlands. He suggested that the potential especially by oligophagous and forest areas, (2) protection of share of the entomopathogenic fungi and polyphagous entomopathogens. peatlands in agricultural and forestry in pastures was significantly higher in landscape, and (3) multifunction of regularly mown grasslands compared Raimo Kolli from the Estonian peatlands. to peat bogs. University of Life Sciences, Department of Soil Science and Stanisław Bałazy from the Institute The majority of the discussed fungi Agrochemistry, Tartu presented for Agricultural and Forest are of anemochorous, zoochorous the application of the ecosystem Environment of the Polish Academy or hydrochorous mode of spore approach in dealing with functioning of Sciences, Poznań pointed out dissemination onto neighbouring regularities and protection of the significance of wetlands and rural or forestry areas, principally histosols. He proposed that the most grasslands for the diversity of by air currents or winds, local dominating peat soil variety is fen soil entomopathogenic fungi in forests watercourses and adults of many with thick, well-decomposed (sapric) insect species, such peat, which is followed by bog soil as different dipteran with thick slightly-decomposed groups including (fibric) peat. Among peaty soils (with tendipedids, culicids, a share of <10%), the majority form bibionids, tipulids and Histic Gleysols. tabanids as well as dragon flies, beetles In general, a consensus exists in and others, swarming management and protection of well- in such habitats and known (more profoundly researched) then migrating far and largely distributed fen and bog among the cultivated soils, as well as of extraordinary fields or surrounding (spring, quaking) peat soils. More forests. sophisticated is the management and protection of peaty soils, which Thus, they increase are located at the border of peat local pathogenic and mineral soils. Nowadays, special interest exists also for the restoration Prof. Argenta Titlanova, Novosibirsk, Russia of cutaway peatlands presents the results on “Peat decomposition in transitional mires in Central Poland”. and management of Photo: Piotr Pinskwar technogenic peat soils.

39 suggested that Sapropel The reserve “Leon Wyczółkowski as non-hazardous Old-Polish Yew Trees” in Wierzchlas. fertilizer activates Photo: Lech Wojciech Szajdak many biochemical pathways in plants, leading to the increase for modelling past of self-purification. It stimulates climate change seed sprouting and root growth of and a possible cultivated plants. Sapropel fertilizer prediction of the usage modifies the soil structure, future. positively impacts the hydrophilic - hydrophobic properties and water Jan Łukaszewicz and air contents. from the Forest Research Institute, Jacek Nowak from the Research Sękocin Stary, Institute of Pomology and Raszyn showed Floriculture in Skierniewice pointed examples of the out that the standardization’s actions of State status works towards a unification Forests units, of methods of physical analyses aiming to save of horticultural substrates in the forested bogs. The European Union. Standardization presented results and characterization of the quality of researches of horticulture substrates became a conducted by the very important issue when modern Forest Research technologies of plant cultivation Institute (mainly in greenhouses were introduced. Krzysztof Janku from the Institute for in the RDSF Bialystok) underline Moreover, physical properties of Agricultural and Forest Environment interrelationships between forests those substrates seem to be a of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and peat bogs. Changes in one of fundamental criteria of quality traits Poznań pointed out the secondary them are reflected in the condition determination. Those methods are succession of Salix spp. - the most of the other. However, in many cases widely applied and accepted by the abundant representative of shrub changes in species composition of majority of substrate producers as species in the study area - in order peatlands were stated. well as laboratories controlling the to show how that has changed quality of growing media. during the last half of the century. Technology and The study showed peat meadows utilization of peat Chemical and physical of the Wyskoć Ditch valley heavily properties of peat transformed by the excavation of The participants of the session the peat. In this process, peat pits pointed out the standard equipment During this session, the most recent were created. His study was based for picking up samples of organic progress and advancements in soil on recent (2011) field surveys, and soils and standard methods for their chemistry, soil biochemistry, soil comparison of air photographs from investigations. The standardization of physics and microbiology of organic an over 50 years period revealed that equipment, devices and methods of soils and their interactions with scrub succession is progressing and is investigation is needed for a better various components were extensively a result of agricultural management comparison of the results. discussed. Important features of change. organic matter create their ability to Jacek Gorski from Geomor- constitute water-soluble and water- Mariusz Lamentowicz from Adam Technik, Szczecin showed new insoluble complexes with hydrous Mickiewicz University, Department tools and devices used for peatland oxides and metal ions and to interact of Biogeography and Palaeoecology, investigations. He explained the with organic substances such as Poznań suggested that geological differences for utilization for each of free amino acids, alkaloids, amines, and palaeoecological studies are the equipment. His oral speech was carbohydrates, fatty acids, alkaloids, prerequisite to begin neo-ecological accompanied by a rich presentation fatty acids, etc. studies. Furthermore, the past of tools and devices. perspective is useful to start Argenta Titlyanova from the Siberian measurements of modern processes Anatol Sakowicz from the Consulting Branch of the Russian Academy of e.g. hydrological monitoring or Office in Wrzesnia explained the Sciences, Institute of Soil Science and carbon exchange. He postulated methods of extraction of sapropel Agrochemistry, Novosibirsk, Russia that the combination of palaeo- and and its utilization in agriculture, showed her results on the rate of the neo-ecology provides a good basis horticulture and pomology. He peat formation and mineralization

40 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 at two depths: 30 cm (the aerobic Paweł Burandt from the Excursion and supporters zone) and 60 cm (anaerobic zone). Department of Land Reclamation In the course of the mineralization, and Environmental Management, The symposium included one field a part of losses was replenished University of Warmia and Mazury in trip through Bory Tucholskie. Bory by plant residues, including roots Olsztyn recognized the contemporary Tucholskie has been transformed of Eriophorum vaginatum. She hydrological conditions of the nature into UNESCO Nature Reserves, postulated that the apparent loss reserve of “Nietlickie Bagno” on the which preserve the forested areas, of peat was lower than the real background of historical cartographic particular plant species or peat annual loss. She suggested that the material. Hydrological observations bogs. The participants saw the differences between the two layers and measurements conducted in the most famous forest reserve “Leon manifest themselves in the nature periods differed by the intensity of Wyczółkowski Old-Polish Yew Trees” of the mineralized residues. At the water outflow and showed significant in Wierzchlas at Lake Mukrz near depth of 30 cm, about 70% of the consequences for the reserve. He Wierzchucin, the landscape reserve. mass loss is due to mineralization of found out that the water resources the moss-cotton grass peat, and 30% of the reserve are formed by snow The trees are under protection since is due to the partial mineralization and rainwater supply. He postulated 1827. Furthermore, the reserve of the plant roots that existed in that the underground phase of water represents the highest number of the mixture initially, and penetrated circulation prevails over the surface yews in Europe. In addition, some into the bags in the course of the outflow. trees are more than 700 years old. experiment. At the depth of 60 cm, Naturally, the participants also got about 65% of the decomposed Katarzyna Styła from the Institute for the chance to see several picturesque material is represented by roots. Agricultural and Forest Environment mires and rivers. The chemical composition and the of the Polish Academy of Sciences, structure of humic substances is Poznań showed the differences in Words of gratitude were given to the responsible for the water-retention activities of enzymes participating in sponsors, Consulting Office, Geomor- character of organic soils. However, redox potential and nitrogen cycle Technik and Kronen for their support. water management of organic soils is and concentrations of chemical strongly influenced by the following compounds in acrotelm and catotelm two processes: humification macro- of Stążka Mire. Stązka Mire is an pore and micro-pore formation. UNESCO reserve located in the Prof. Dr. Lech Wojciech Szajdak Bory Tucholskie. She revealed Doctor Honoris Causa Ryszard Oleszczuk from Warsaw significant differences in the activities Polish Academy of Sciences University of Life Sciences - SGGW, of enzymes and the amounts of Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment Department of Environmental chemical components between PL-60-809 Poznan, Poland Improvement reviewed existing these two layers. She also postulated email: [email protected] equations and compared field different rates of the transformation data of moisture content (using of organic matter in these two layers. gravimetric method) and the values of moisture quantity measured in the peat-moorsh layers by TDR method (using equations presented in the literature). He gave recommendations for the best calibration curves of TDR in lowland peat-moorsh soils in Poland.

Brda River in the Tuchola Landscape Park. Photo: Lech Wojciech Szajdak

41 Some Aspects of Raised Bog Conservation in

Northern Poland Text: Maria Herbichowa, Paulina Ćwiklinska and Agnieszka Sadowska

Fig. 1: Location of the Czarne Bagno bog.

bog in 2006. The area of this mire once equalled 226 hectares. The bog’s remnants (102.86 ha) have been protected in a nature reserve since 2006. The reserve is also a part of the ‘Łebskie Bagna’ Natura 2000 site.

In 2006, within the LIFE – Nature project, the Management Plan of the reserve was elaborated. One of the In Poland, plateau raised During the LIFE-Project, in order to basic conservation aims was blocking bogs, also known as “Baltic maintain or restore the favourable the outflow of water from the bog bogs”, are concentrated in the conservation status of active raised dome, which succeeded by installing northern part of the country bogs, different activities were 105 dams in drainage ditches. The where the climate is relatively undertaken: progress in water damming is being humid and cool. monitored by a set of automatic 1. ten nature reserves were divers. As an effect of various forms of established, human activity, no Polish plateau 2. all bog protection reserves were Vacuum peat production was carried raised bog has remained in a pristine supplied with management out within the Czarne Bagno Reserve state and almost 50% of them have plans, in the 1980s. The cut-away area of been totally destroyed. 3. valuable raised bogs were about 12 ha was left without any submitted to the European reclamation with a highly unstable Since the end of the 18th century, Commission to become Natura ground water table level, and the these bogs have been drained, used 2000 sites, spontaneous succession of plants for small scale peat extraction and 4. water conditions were improved was scant. When our experimental afforested and some of them have in seventeen bogs by blocking work began, no more than 5% of the been damaged by industrial peat the outflow in drainage area was covered with vegetation production. The total number of ditches and ground water level and the moorshing process was in remaining Baltic bogs in Poland is monitoring has begun, progress (Herbichowa et al. 2007). estimated at about 70. 5. in twelve raised bogs young birch and pine trees were cut The restoration is now being According to the research carried out and removed, an appropriate conducted using a modified Canadian by the NGO Naturalists Club in 2003- infrastructure was constructed, method (Quinty, Rochefort 2003). 2007, within the LIFE-Nature Project enabling access to eight areas, In the first step, we blocked the “Conservation of Baltic raised bogs and ditches within the cutover area. in Pomerania, Poland” (LIFE04NAT/ 6. experimental reintroduction of Preparing the field for reintroduction PL/000208 PLBALTBOGS), only 24 peat-forming vegetation in the involved removing the upper layer plateau raised bogs in NW Poland cutover areas was initiated. of decomposed peat. Within the (Pomerania region) were classified as prepared area, the diaspores (shoot “having a chance to be maintained or Restoration of the vegetation was fragments) of seven Sphagnum restored” (Fig. 1). begun in the Czarne Bagno raised species (Sphagnum palustre, S.

42 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Fig. 2: Introduction of Sphagnum mosses into the cutaway peatland, autumn 2007. Photo: M. Herbichowa

magellanicum, S. russowii, S. shoots. The Sphagnum development flooding, even when prolonged, does rubellum, S. cuspidatum, S. fallax in subplots established in summer not negatively affect the introduced and S. capillifolium) were spread is much slower than in those which species, but desiccation during manually and covered with straw were set up in autumn. periods of drought and high air mulch (Fig. 2). temperatures are critical factors. The moss shoots are relatively The amount of shoots planted sensitive just after being spread Considering the above observation, created an initial coverage equalling on the ground and if they suffer we can assume that Sphagnum 6-10% in each sub-plot area. The from high temperatures and low species used for restoration purposes Sphagnum material was picked from air humidity their survival rate is must be resistant to soil moisture the closest nearby sites. All species low. Introducing shoots in autumn fluctuations and desiccation. used for reintroduction are present in gives the Sphagnum optimal growth Theoretically, the hummock the contemporary flora of the Czarne conditions if the straw layer is Sphagnum species should be the Bagno bog outside of the post- replenished yearly at the beginning most suitable. In the Czarne Bagno, excavation fields. of the vegetation season. however, not only Sphagnum russowi and S. cappilifolium tolerate Up until now about 3 ha of the A crucial factor in stimulating a difficult moisture conditions, but cutover area (seven polders) were succession of mosses is maintaining also Sphagnum palustre and S. treated in this manner. Four polders an appropriate water regime in the cuspidatum as well (Fig. 3). which are undergoing an intensive peat bog. Water table fluctuations regeneration process of Sphagnum observed within the restored The last of the mentioned species, palustre, S. magellanicum, S. russowii areas are unavoidable. It usually which is typical to very wet habitats, and S. cuspidatum, are being takes about 10 years to achieve a has increased its coverage in constantly monitored. stable high water table, especially restoration plots from 6% (initial in intensively drained, vacuum- coverage) to 39% within one year and The preliminary results show that exctracted peatlands. survived well the period of dropping this method of restoration can water levels in summer. prevent further degradation of Despite of the observed gradual seriously damaged mires and give water level rise in the Czarne Bagno, The application of mixed shoots of a chance for peatland vegetation the fluctuations are still very high various Sphagnum species is also a to recover. The rate of moss (Herbichowa et al. 2007, 2008). favourable solution. Specimens of regeneration depends on the Water table levels drop in summer the more durable species, which season of diaspore introduction, to as much as 50 cm below ground grow relatively quickly, can be used the presence of a protective straw level, whereas, in spring and autumn, as ‘nursing species’ for the other, layer, soil moisture conditions and some parts of the restoration field more fragile ones. the amount of introduced moss are completely flooded. It seems that

43 Fig. 3: Regeneration of Sphagnum cuspidatum - two years after introduction. Photo: P. Ćwiklinska

et al. 2003). Some research carried out in Europe revealed that after only a few years of restoration work in a

raised bog, the CO2 emission from peat deposits drops (Augustin 2007). Carbon dioxide emission in the Czarne Bagno has been monitored since 2011. Long-term observations are needed to evaluate the success of our restoration work.

We must be aware, when planning restoration work, that we cannot achieve the primary state of Erica tetralix, Eriophorum vaginatum, vegetation or hydrological regime in a The amount of introduced plant Rhynchospora alba and Oxycoccus mire, which was seriously destroyed material also seems to have a palustris bloomed and bore fruits. e.g. by vacuum peat production. significant influence on the moss succession. Experimental results An unfavourable process, which However, the above described show that regeneration of Sphagnum occurred in the restoration area, method of restoration gives a real is 2-3 times faster in plots where an is an expansion of seedlings opportunity for peat-forming species initial 10% of the area was covered and young specimens of Betula to establish on cutover areas and, with moss shoots than in those pendula and Betula pubescens. hopefully in the future, to once again where the introduced shoots covered These species compete with the begin the peat accumulation process. only 6%. Sphagnum mosses and, as an effect of intensive transpiration, decrease References Within the growing moss layer the soil moisture. Even if it is time- some vascular plant species are able consuming, young seedlings of Augustin J. 2007. Peatland rewetting and to settle (Fig. 4.). Their diaspores birch must be manually removed the greenhouse effect. International Mire Conservation Group Newsletter 3: originate from places where from restoration plots. The optimal 29-30. Sphagnum material was gathered or factor for limiting birch growth is Herbichowa M., Budyś A., Cwiklińska from the surroundings of the post- maintaining a high water table level. P. 2008. Experimental re-introduction excavation area. In the vegetation of mire plant species in milled, raised bogs in Northern Poland. In: Farrell C., seasons 2008-2010, numerous The long term objective of peatland Feehan J. (Eds.). After wise use – the specimens of Drosera rotundifolia, restoration is to return the cutover future of peatlands. Proceedings of areas to functional peat accumulating the 13th International Peat Congress, Tullamore, Ireland 8 - 13 June 2008. ecosystems and CO2 sinks (Rochefort Fig. 4: Young clusters of Sphagnum International Peat Society, Jyväskylä, Finland. palustre and S. russowii give an Herbichowa M., Pawlaczyk P., Stańko R. opportunity for the establishment 2007. Conservation of Baltic raised bogs of vascular plants typical for the in Pomerania, Poland. Experience and bog flora. Photo: P. Ćwiklinska Results of the LIFE04NAT/PL00028 PLBALTBOGS Project. Wydawnictwo Klubu Przyrodnikow, Świebodzin. Quinty F., Rochefort L. 2003. Peatland restoration guide. Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association, St. Albert. Rochefort, L., Quinty, F., Campeau, S., Johnson K. and Malterer, T. 2003. North American approach to the restoration of Sphagnum dominated peatlands. Wetlands Ecology and Management 11, 3-20. Maria Herbichowa, Paulina Ćwiklińska Agnieszka Sadowska Department of Plant Taxonomy and Nature Conservation University of Gdańsk, Poland emails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Book Review Vasyugan Mire – Natural Conditions, Structure and Functioning

Review: Lech Wojciech Szajdak

16% of the peat stock in the West occurring in the Vasyugan Mire. Siberia region. In the world, there is Furthermore, clear calculations of no other territory in comparison to carbon sequestration in peat deposit West Siberia where the mires would are given. The book explains the occupy similar huge areas. structure of peat resources and chemical properties of the peats of The scientific investigations of the Vasyugan Mire. Vasyugan Mire have started in the 19th century and continue still. Those The authors succeed in providing investigations involve broad aspects a comprehensive overview of the of geography, geology, hydrology, structure and functions of the biology, ecology, chemistry, and Vasyugan Mire. All materials and biochemistry. results included in the book are very well documented in the text, in Therefore, the obtained results are the form of suitable tables, figures, very rich and relevant to different diagrams, pictures and tables. sources. The authors of the book are well-known scientists conducting The book is intended for long-term investigations on the telmathologists, peat scientists, Vasyugan Mire – Natural territory of the Vasyugan Mire. ecologists, biologists, soils scientists, Conditions, Structure They spent a lot of time during field biochemists, chemists and other and Functioning, by expeditions there and published environmental scientists and L.I. Inisheva, A.A. Zemtsov many papers dealing with different specialists but will be also of interest and S.M. Novikov. Tomsk State aspect of the Vasyugan Mire. to researchers in microbiology, Pedagogical University Press, Therefore, they had the real right to organic geochemistry, geochemistry, 2011, 160 pages, 32 figures, write this book. Their deep respect and environmental sciences. The and 147 references. and feeling for the Vasyugan Mire is book is well-suitable for under- present in every page of this book. graduate and post-graduate students Every person that has seen only and researchers, and other soil-plant a small part of Vasyugan Mire is The book consists of the following science specialists. amazed, surprised, and charmed by chapters: i) introduction, ii) short this marvel of nature. It is a unique history of research, iii) environment Prof. Dr. Lech Wojciech Szajdak place to find amazing different kinds of formation of mires in taiga and Doctor Honoris Causa Polish Academy of Sciences of peat in nature and in the world. forest-steppe subbelts of Western Institute for Agricultural and Forest The mire is located in West Siberia Siberia, iv) structure of mire Environment between the Ob and Irtysh Rivers. It biogeoscenosis, v) structure of ul. Bukowska 19 is the largest mire in the world with peat resources, vi) on the problem PL-60-809 Poznan, Poland email: [email protected] an area of about 5,269,437 ha. of rational use of Vasyugan Mire, vii) contemporary regimes in However, the greatest extent of this geochemically connected landscapes mire reaches 573 km from west to of oligotrophic series, viii) conclusion, east and 320 km from north to south. ix) references. Order your IPS It is located in two geochemical parts: books and magazines southern taiga and forest-steppe. The data on the Vasyugan Mire More than 200 rivers flow down is based on contemporary now online at www. from Vasyugan Mire. Furthermore, research. The authors showed the the peat accumulation reaches 18.7 complexity of natural conditions peatsociety.org/shop! billion tons there; it amounts to and biogeocenosis structure

45 Figure 1c: One of OuTrop’s three focus primate species: the red langur (Presbytis rubicunda).

Biodiversity research and conservation in Borneo’s peat- swamp forests

46 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Background Text and photos: Mark E. Harrison, Susan M. Cheyne, David A. Ehlers Smith, Simon J. Husson, Helen C. A recent article in Peatlands Morrogh-Bernard and Bernat Ripoll Capilla International (1/2010, pp28-31) highlighted the carbon emissions resulting from Indonesian tropical peat-swamp forest drainage and were two under-graduate students, fore, serving as a catalyst for surveys efforts underway to help mitigate Simon Husson and Helen Morrogh- in other peat-swamp areas. This these emissions. Indeed, following Bernard, who had just learnt of confirmed that many of the largest the UNFCC COP15 and 16, carbon a new technique for estimating Bornean orang-utan populations are has been the talk of the town and orang-utan abundance through line to be found in peat-swamp forest, Indonesia’s peat-swamp forests transects of their sleeping platforms including in the Mawas (ca. 3,500 have been at the forefront of or “nests”, and set about conducting individuals and home of the Tuanan this discussion, owing to their the first orang-utan population orang-utan research site, coordinated exceptionally high carbon content. surveys in the area. To their – and the by the University of Zürich) and Much less talked about is these conservation world’s – surprise, this Katingan swamps (ca. 3,600 forest’s biodiversity, which, at research revealed that the 6,000 km2 individuals). Both these areas are present, does not have the same Sabangau Forest is actually home to now the subject of habitat protection potential for direct economic the world’s largest single orang-utan initiatives, coordinated by the Borneo trading as does carbon and which is population, currently estimated at Orang-utan Survival Foundation and frequently considered a “co-benefit” ~6,900 individuals. PT. Rimba Makmur Utama/Starling of protecting peat-swamp forests for Asia, respectively. Although carbon the sake of conserving carbon stocks. This finding was important on a focused, these projects highlight number of levels. Firstly, it helped the substantial benefits for orang- Borneo’s peat-swamp forests were leverage political and financial utan conservation accrued from the traditionally believed to have very support for conserving Sabangau conservation of these forests. low biodiversity value. This view led Forest and its important orang-utan to the majority of the Kalimantan’s population – the majority of the Finally, this finding and subsequent peatlands being given over to logging forest in between the Sabangau and increased attention served as a concessions in the 1970’s and, Katingan rivers is now protected platform for the establishment of famously among peat scientists, as the Natural Laboratory of Peat- the Orang-utan Tropical Peatland the ill-fated Mega Rice Project in swamp Forest (NLPSF) and Sebangau Project (OuTrop) in 1999, and the the 1990’s. This project aimed to National Park, although much still development of much further convert 1 Mha of peatland into rice needs to be done to secure long- biodiversity research in Sabangau. paddies, but, as predicted by experts, term conservation success. OuTrop is a UK-based not-for-profit failed dramatically and turned NGO and charity, which works in much of the area into a fire-prone Secondly, it brought the importance wasteland. Although impossible to of Borneo’s peat-swamp forests quantify, thousands of orang-utans, for orang-utan conservation to the and countless numbers of other Figure 2: A clouded leopard, species, would have captured by an OuTrop/WildCRU perished as a result. camera trap in Sabangau.

The Sabangau Forest

It was at around this time that the first real research into the biodiversity of Kalimantan’s peat swamps was conducted in the Sabangau Forest, by a team led by Jack Rieley and Susan Page, working in collaboration with the University of Palangka Raya. Among this crew

47 overall population size remained constant, but then a dramatic crash occurred, with the total estimated number of orang-utans decreasing by one third during 2002-2003. This is attributed to the compression effect, as animals moved into sub- optimal logging refuge areas, leading to over crowding and, ultimately, death through starvation. This has important implications for our understanding of the impacts of logging disturbance on orang-utans throughout their range.

OuTrop’s Orang-utan Behaviour Project was established in 2003 and represented the first-ever orang-utan behavioural study in ombrogenous deep peat-swamp forest. This Figure 1a: Another of OuTrop’s focus primate species: the Bornean project has yielded many exciting orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus) revelations, including: forest productivity and orang- utan densities), low-pole forest The first observations of orang- (lower productivity and orang- utan self medication, with animals collaboration with the Centre for utan densities) and tall-pole forest chewing the leaves of the Dracaena the International Cooperation in (high productivity and orang-utan plant into a lather and rubbing this Sustainable Management of Tropical densities, unique to the Sabangau into joints to relieve pain, mirroring Peatlands (CIMTROP), directed by peat dome). closely the use of this plant as Suwido Limin at the University of traditional medicine by local people. Palangka Raya. Our goal is to support Following the cessation of the area’s conservation in Central Kalimantan last logging concession in 1996 until Demonstration of frequent periods through: (1) conservation-orientated the establishment of the CIMTROP of energy shortfall, which is believed research, providing important Forest Patrol Team in 2003, the to be related to consistently low information for, and training to, NLPSF was subject to intensive illegal environmental fruit availability. local conservation practitioners; logging. This was focused in those This highlights the vulnerability of and (2) encouraging and supporting areas with the highest abundance of the population to further habitat locally-led conservation initiatives, large, commercially- via the provision of funds, expertise, valuable timber trees; capacity building, international i.e., the prime orang- and media contacts, and logistical utan habitats of the support. mixed-swamp and tall- pole forest. Biodiversity Research by OuTrop and CIMTROP Our orang-utan nest survey data OuTrop and CIMTROP now operate demonstrate a a multi-disciplinary biodiversity population shift into research programme in the NLPSF, the less-productive Sabangau, including research into our low-pole forest namesake – the orang-utan – plus coinciding with this a wide variety of other areas. One disturbance, as of our most important discoveries animals moved away has been the demonstration of the from the logging. For “compression effect” on the area’s a couple of years, orang-utan population, following logging disturbance. Figure 1b: Focus primate The forest in the NLPSF is comprised species three: Southern of three main habitat sub-types: gibbon (Hylobates albibarbis) mixed-swamp forest (intermediate

48 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 degradation, and supports the above compression effect theory of population collapse.

Increased understanding of orang- utan social dynamics obtained through genetic analyses, with higher mean relatedness among the area’s females, compared to males; i.e., females remaining around their natal range upon reaching adulthood and males dispersing.

The success of this research naturally led to further primate research, with full-time behavioural research projects studying the Bornean southern gibbons and red langurs Figure 3: A Storm’s stork, captured by an OuTrop/WildCRU becoming established in 2005 and camera trap in Sabangau. 2009, respectively (Figure 1). As for orang-utans, the initial focus of our research into these species was and food availability); unravelling population surveys. These revealed the impacts of logging on gibbon that Sabangau is also vital for the territory size; a lack of the red langur the NLPSF, in which each tree has conservation of these primates, both morning chorus heard at other sites, been given a unique tag number, of which are endemic to Borneo. despite comparable densities; and identified to species, and measured Sabangau is likely home to over the identification of important food for diameter at breast height and 25,000 gibbons, making this the resources for both species. These basal area. largest known population of this three concurrent primate behaviour endangered species (precise red projects complement each other These plots are used to establish langur population estimates are excellently and are a data set unique habitat quality in different areas currently being calculated, but it is to Sabangau. (i.e., species diversity and tree size), clear that the forest is home to a very forest dynamics (recruitment, growth substantial population). Food availability and quality are and mortality rates) and changes in well known to be very a important these over time. Monthly surveys Key findings from these projects influence on primates and the of primate fruit/flower/leaf shoot – both the first of their kind in three primate species that we study availability are also conducted in six peat-swamp forest – include the are all predominantly vegetarian. plots covering 2.4 ha in our main demonstration of reductions in Consequently, and in order to gain a research grid. gibbon morning singing bouts deeper insight into the ecology of the (important for maintaining group forest and its regeneration following An exciting new arm of our research cohesion and territory defence) disturbance, floral studies are also is the study of the area’s cat during periods with heavy a key component of smoke from forest fires; positive our research remit. We relationships between gibbon have now established Figure 4: Subjects of OuTrop’s biodiversity population density and forest 34 tree plots covering monitoring research include birds, such as quality (i.e., canopy cover, tree size a total 3 ha of forest in this chestnut-bellied malkoha (a); ants, such as this Camponotus gigas borneensis (b); and frogs, such as this Collett’s tree frog (c).

49 scientists and community members is critical for ensuring long-term conservation success. To date, over ten CIMTROP students/scientists and twenty local community members have received training with OuTrop, including learning research methods, and data storage and analysis techniques; increasing understanding of conservation and threats to the area’s biodiversity; computer use; project management; and English language.

OuTrop and CIMTROP scientists are also regular contributors to conservation action plans from local Figure 5: Seedlings being grown in the to international level, on topics Sabangau Seedling Nursery, prior to ranging from land use, to orang- transplantation into degraded/burnt areas. utans, gibbons and fruit bats. This planning means little without on- the-ground action, and so OuTrop populations. Here, we use laser- environment are required. To this also provides financial and technical triggered camera traps to capture end, we are conducting in-depth support for CIMTROP’s Patrol Team pictures of these highly-secretive studies investigating the response and Fire Attack Force, which work animals and their prey base, which of the area’s bird, ant and butterfly to prevent illegal logging and other can be used to identify individual fauna to changes in habitat condition activities, dam illegal logging canals animals and, hence, estimate as assessed through our tree plots. to restore natural hydrology, fight population density. This project Pilot studies on other species groups dry-season fires and improve local has been hugely successful and has are underway (e.g., amphibians, community relations. confirmed the presence of a number Figure 4) or planned for the near of (often threatened) species in the future. Our research programme is area that are virtually impossible intricately tied in with these to see directly, including clouded Finally, we are also studying activities and is tailored towards leopard (Figure 2), marbled cat, flat- techniques for effective peat- providing constructive feedback headed cat, otter civet, binturong swamp forest restoration. Seeds to conservation practitioners and Storm’s stork (Figure 3). and seedlings are collected from to maximise the biodiversity the forest, nurtured and grown in conservation success, and minimise While our research on primates the controlled conditions of our the cost, of their forest protection and cats may grab more headlines, seedling nursery (Figure 5), and then initiatives. Such research is becoming OuTrop’s biodiversity research is transplanted into burnt/degraded more and more important, in light of equally as important for improving areas, to assess the optimum the increasing amount of resources our understanding of peat-swamp approach for replanting. spent on biodiversity conservation, forest’s value for biodiversity the often dangerous nature of conservation, understanding the Supporting Education and conservation activities (e.g., fire ecology of the forest and the roles Conservation fighting) and, of particular local that different species play within relevance, the need for Reduced this, and interpreting the impact of OuTrop’s and CIMTROP’s peat-swamp Emissions from Deforestation and human activities – both ‘positive’ forest biodiversity expertise obtained Degradation (REDD+) projects to and ‘negative’ – on biodiversity. In through 12 years of intensive demonstrate positive impacts on particular, although frequently the research places us in a unique biodiversity. focus of conservation initiatives, the position to assist in the conservation slow breeding and rate of population of Borneo’s biodiversity. Through our change in the area’s flagship ape student and volunteer programme, Mark E. Harrison, Susan M. Cheyne, species means that by the time OuTrop has supported seven PhD, David A. Ehlers Smith, Simon J. Husson, Helen C. Morrogh-Bernard any change in the population is 24 masters and 40 undergraduate and Bernat Ripoll Capilla detectable, it is probably too late to students’ research, and trained over email: [email protected] take corrective action. 300 volunteers from 18 countries www.outrop.com in field research methods and outrop.blogspot.com

Consequently, rapidly-responding conservation issues. Improving indicators of changes in the local capacity through training local

50 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 University of Helsinki and University of Palangka Raya launch joint capacity building project

Text and photo: Maija Lampela

On 16th of September 2011, Practical restoration experimenting Education Institutions. It is due to be at the University of Palangka outside of Palangka Raya and completed by the beginning of 2013. Raya (UNPAR), a 1.5 year long visits to study academic education academic capacity building methods on related topics in Finland Further information about the project “STEM - Support Tool form other important parts of the project can be given by the author, a for Sustainable Environment cooperation. description in Finnish is also available Management in Tropical Rural at www.helsinki.fi/mmtdk/esittely/ Communities” was launched. The STEM project is targeted mainly uutiset/2011/111025_stem.html. at UNPAR’s staff and students. To Partners in the STEM project are the validate the cooperation between Department of Forest Sciences of the UH and UNPAR’s institutions, the University of Helsinki (UH), Finland Rectors of the Universities, Thomas Maija Lampela and the University of Palangka Raya Wilhelmsson for UH, and Henry M.Sc. STEM Project Coordinator Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry (UNPAR), Indonesia through the Singarasa for UNPAR, have signed Department of Forest Sciences Master program “Natural resources a Memorandum of Understanding phone: +358 50 514 5281 and environmental management”, (MoU) for cooperation in education, email: [email protected] and the Centre for International academic and research activities. Co-Operation in Management of Tropical Peatland (CIMTROP). The project is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland under The STEM project aims for academic the HEI-ICI program that is a Capacity Master program students from capacity building in several levels Building Support Program for Higher the University of Palangka Raya and fields. Main goals of the taking part in lectures on natural project are sharing resources and environmental knowledge in management. communications, internationalization, academic pedagogies, research methodology, global environmental policies, as well as restoration and rehabilitation of degraded peat swamp ecosystems and the carbon cycle.

The planned work includes public seminars, shared teaching, and producing publicity materials on the topic at the UNPAR campus.

51 Sharing Best Management Practices on Peatlands in

Southeast Asia Text: Noor Azura Ahmad

Did you know that peat which The main organiser of the event was known among peat conservationists has dried out too many times the Global Environment Centre (GEC) for his expertise in canal blocking and floats and refuses to absorb as the Regional Project Executing carbon conservation. Other resource water? This is among the Agency of both the ASEAN Peatland persons were Dr. Suwido Limin whose things learnt by participants Forests Project (APFP) and SEApeat. strong area is fire management and in a Technical Workshop on APFP and SEApeat are two closely Dr. Darmae Nasir who specializes in Best Management Practices related programmes which are the socio-economic aspect of peat (BMP) for Sustainable Peatland supported by GEF/IFAD (Global management. Management held in Luwansa Environment Facility / International Hotel, Palangka Raya, Central Fund for Agricultural Development) Thirty-four participants represented Kalimantan, from 15th to 18th and the European Union (EU) eight (8) ASEAN countries namely June 2011. respectively. They work together to Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, demonstrate, implement and scale Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand The objective of the workshop was to up the sustainable management and and Vietnam. They were from build capacity among those involved rehabilitation of peatland forests various departments and ministries; in peatland conservation so that by reducing deforestation and GHG including national environment they can bring back new knowledge emissions from peatland forest protection agencies, forestry and shared experiences to be degradation in Southeast Asia. departments, fire departments, implemented in their respective university experts and relevant countries. Co-organising the event was NGOs; all involved in implementing Lembaga Pengkajian, Pendidikan, dan programmes for peatland Pelatihan Lingkungan Hidup (LP3LH), management. a local institute for environmental Participants of the workshop with Ir study, education and training, led To launch the workshop, Ir. Murshid Marsono, Head of Central by Mr. Alue Dohong. Mr. Alue, who Mursid Marsono, Head of the Kalimantan DOE (second from left, is the Director of LP3LH, is widely Central Kalimantan Department second row). Photo: Azura Ahmad

52 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 of Environment (BLH KalTeng) traversing over welcomed the participants and the dark waters announced the opening of the of the Sebangau event. The Indonesian Ministry of Lake. The large Environment (KLH) supported the waterway conference and hosted a welcome is relatively dinner for the participants. The shallow and workshop began with an indoor harbours large session of a series of presentations clusters of regarding Best Management pandanus type Practices (BMPs) on peatlands. All plants along its through the workshop, participants edges. This was were encouraged to interact closely one of the most and share their experiences with unique and each other. unforgettable experience for Two participants and Dr. Suwido (right) The workshop gave an overview of many in the taking a closer look at some ‘purun’. peatlands in Central Kalimantan, group. Incidentally, Dr. Suwido’s hat is made of principles of wise use, social- dried purun. Photo: Azura Ahmad economic factors, practical aspects At the NLPSF, various and good practices in peatland researchers based there have posted resource must be protected and kept management. Among the topics their findings on the community sustainable. covered was an introduction to notice board. This included peatland hydrology, benefits of canal biodiversity, especially orang-utans; The next day, the group visited blocking and its options plus effective and carbon emission studies. An block C of the ex-Mega Rice project fire fighting techniques for peatland interactive question and answer sites in Kalampangan. Close to the fires. Among others, the experts session made the knowledge CIMTROP Community Centre was a compared the effectiveness and sharing more memorable. Later, small agricultural project site. Various cost of dousing fire using deep-wells participants visited a climate study vegetables like eggplants, bird’s-eye compared to using helicopters. Dr. tower and a small canal block chillies and lemongrass were planted Suwido also shared a technique used nearby. The canal block, known here. Goats were also kept to provide by patrolling volunteers, using ‘water by the local Dayak community as meat for people and fertilizer for bombs’ in plastic bags to douse small ‘tabat’, had accumulated organic the plants. The combination allows fires before they spread. matter and degraded just enough for a self-sustaining system that is to be an inherent part of the canal, important for the livelihood of the Following the indoor sessions, proving the wisdom of the elders people. participants were taken to visit the who construct such dams using local Natural Laboratory for Peat Swamp organic materials instead of cement Participants were then taken to Forest (NLPSF) which is managed or concrete. dams 3 and 5 by motorcycle to have by the Centre for International a closer look at their construction. Management of Tropical Peatland The role of the Sebangau Lake Along the way, it was depressing to (CIMTROP) in Sebangau. This was for eco-friendly socialising and see the widespread destruction in reached by bus, boat, and most recreation was seen in the form of the area due to excessive draining interestingly; a rustic ‘train’. The children enjoying an afternoon dip of the peatlands for the Mega-Rice last uses a small motor to drive the near the Kereng Bangkirai jetty. The project and subsequent fires that ‘car’ between a jetty and the NLPSF, importance of the peat swamp was plagued the area. The dry, exposed reflected in our soil readily turned to dust as the dinner which motorcycles passed. The dams, included catfish which were built to halt uncontrolled and freshwater draining of the peat, have stabilized prawns, rich the water level and rehydrated the sources of soil by raising the water table. protein to the Where the canals have been community. blocked, the vegetation was seen This precious to be greener with more plant regeneration. Some of the species The exciting ride to seen were tenggek burung trees the Natural Laboratory (Euodia roxburghiana), Nepenthes for Peat Swamp Forest spp. and kemunting plants. Also (NLPSF). Photo: Julia Lo found was a type of sedge called ‘purun’, whose hardy grass-like

53 The workshop ended with presentations by participants from the various countries on the best management practices in the use of peatlands or wetlands in their respective countries. Among the memorable ones were traditional techniques for using controlled fire in land preparation, raising catfish in blocked drainage canals, as well as land and fire management in peat areas. Through this exercise, everyone had the opportunity to exchange ideas, knowledge and lessons learnt with colleagues One of the participants sharing working in peat conservation, with his experiences with the group. which to improve and enhance the Photo: Serena Lew management of peatlands in their respective countries. stems are traditionally dried and support their livelihood or for their It is hoped that the bonds forged woven into various items such as own needs, if they have kept the in this workshop would strengthen hats and baskets. trees long enough and replacement the network of people conserving trees are planted. peatlands through their specific roles Close to an area which burnt two in South-east Asia. For the full report years ago, Hokkaido University had We also stopped by a vegetable and more photos, please visit the supported the building of a 45 metre smallholding, owned by Pak Sujadi, a ASEAN Peat website at high climatology research tower. transmigrant from Java, where corn, www.aseanpeat.net. This would help to gather more chillies, long beans and several other information about the link between vegetables are successfully grown The Global Environment Centre (GEC) peatlands and climate change. Those on the peat soil using sustainable is a non-profit NGO established in who took the challenge of climbing agricultural practices. The knowledge 1998 to address key environmental the tower were rewarded with a clear was gained through technical issues. Based in Malaysia and view of two orang-utans on nearby assistance from a local university, supporting activities worldwide, GEC trees. It showed that biodiversity from where he had learnt about is focused on bringing together all can still survive in degraded areas, environment friendly soil preparation parties to help foster lasting changes as long as their needs for food and techniques, fertilization methods for environmental benefit. shelter can be met. A demonstration and the rotation system. From his on fire suppression on peat was struggle to make a living on the acidic Noor Azura Ahmad also held to give participants the and waterlogged soil in the early Peatland Programme, Global opportunity to examine the deep Environment Centre, Selangor, Malaysia days, the income from his land now phone: +603 7957 2007 well, water pump and hose set up; allows him to lead a comfortable life, email: [email protected] and to try their hands at putting out hopefully well into the future. www.gec.org.my, www.peat-portal.net the blaze. Fire prevention and control www.aseanpeat.net is one of the key BMPs in protecting Participants trying their hand peatlands. at dousing a small fire in Kalampangan. At the back is the In the nearby Tumbang Taruna goat shed. Photo: Azura Ahmad village, a programme called the “Buying Living Tree System” has been introduced by CIMTROP to engage the local community in carbon conservation efforts. The trees grown under this effort are from Shorea, Melalueca and Dyera species. Villagers are rewarded as long as the trees are growing. When the trees are harvested, the carbon is conserved in the wood, not released to the atmosphere as CO2. Villagers are allowed to harvest the trees to

54 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Text: Marryanna Lion, Shamsuddin The Hydrology of the Ibrahim and Abd Rahman Kassim Ayer Hitam Peat Swamp Forest, Johore, Peninsular Malaysia

The study site from their ability to enable rapid conserving primary peat swamp groundwater recharge and ensure forests for their ecological values Peat swamp forests (PSF) are slow discharge. For this reason, and functions. The extent of the unique habitats for flora and fauna, peat swamp forests provide water Ayer Hitam peat swamp forest is containing a high proportion of storage for agriculture, water supply about 3,797 hectares; it receives endemic species. Peat swamp to local communities and mitigate water input primarily from rainfall forests in Malaysia, which once downstream flooding. This helps and has no linkages to surrounding occupied 2.4 million hectares, have in maintaining soil moisture and river systems. A man made channel been decreasing rapidly as they are reduces the risk of fires. Peat swamp was dug to drain the forest for crop transformed and developed into forests are also rich in biodiversity, production. other land uses. The understanding which is important for maintaining of their ecology, especially hydrology, the gene pool regionally and globally Currently, Ayer Hitam is surrounded is vital to conserve the remaining whilst providing food and economic by human settlements and activities stands and enable sustainable use of resources for local communities. (Figure 2). The principal land use their resources. in this area is agriculture, including The State of Johore has expressed oil palm plantations, citrus farms, Tropical peat swamp forests its interest in promoting best pineapple farming and other crop not only moderate extremes of management practices in the Ayer production (Figure 3). A rapid climate but also act as hydrological Hitam Forest Reserve (Ayer Hitam), assessment of the status of the regulators and provide essential one of the few remaining Forest hydrology within the forest, carried food and economic resources for Reserves in Johore dominated by out between March and July 2011 local communities. These forests, peat swamp forest. This effort is revealed threats to the ecosystem in their primary condition, play an supported technically by Wetlands from the present water management important role as carbon sinks but International (WI) that is very keen regime. Among the hydrological become major carbon sources once to use Ayer Hitam to demonstrate components assessed were the flow the ecosystem is highly disturbed the importance of protecting and rate, water quality and water table. and becomes permanently degraded. Their hydrological importance derives

Ayer Hitam Ayer Hitam PSF PSF

Figure 1: Location of the Ayer Hitam peat swamp forest. Map: Hamdan Omar

55

1 1

Figure 2: The land use map of the Ayer Hitam Forest Reserve shows that it is surrounded by human settlements and activities with oil palm plantations as major land use. Map: Hamdan Omar

was 498 mm in these water quality measurements in December 2006 Ayer Hitam in 2011. and the lowest (10 mm) was in The assessment of the man made February 2002. canal (Figure 6) adjacent to the forest The average shows that its depth ranged between annual total 14 and 37 cm with a cross sectional rainfall for this area between 0.078 to 0.734 m2. The area for the past water velocity rates were between nine years is 0.06 to 0.33 m/sec and the base flow 1,703 mm. discharge (Q) from four canals was 0.012 to 0.181 m3/sec. Water quality and quantity The water table depth was determined from two monitoring The water in stations, AHPA1 and AHPA2. The Ayer Hitam is average water level recorded at acidic with low AHPA1 ranged from -44.9 cm to concentrations -7.3 cm while, at APHA2, it was of dissolved 16.4 cm to -35.1 cm. The minus sign

oxygen. Based indicates that the water is below the on the physico- peat surface. Large negative numbers Rainfall pattern chemical parameters2 analysed (pH, mean that the water table is far conductivity, DO, turbidity and below the surface while small values Ayer Hitam experiences a relatively temperature), the water in Ayer mean that the water level is high. dry period lasting for six months from Hitam generally falls between classes When the values are positive, water May to October, followed by three I to III of the Malaysian National is above the surface and the area is months of heavy rainfall between Water Quality Standard (NWQS). The flooded. November and April. The peaks of pH ranged between 2.16 to 5.12; rainfall are in November and April. conductivity (41.67 to 842.67µs/cm); Threats to Ayer Hitam The highest mean monthly rainfall dissolved oxygen (0.60 to 7.02 mg/l); of 228 mm occurs in April whilst the turbidity (1.39 to 39.43 NTU) and Ayer Hitam is now subjected to the lowest of 79 mm is in February. The temperature (26 to 31 °C). Figure 5 following threats: highest rainfall recorded for this area shows the mean concentrations of • Land clearing, land excavation and conversion to oil palm and other food crop cultivation (Figure 7) • Over-draining: Continued draining of water from the peat swamp forest for an extended period will lower the water table, increase oxidation and lead to peat subsidence. The dry peat will become susceptible to fire, and release catastrophic amounts of

CO2 to the environment. • The use of pesticide and fertilizers in crop cultivation and oil palm plantations can adversely affect water quality through leaching and direct loading of chemicals Figure 3: Oil palm plantations are into the nearest canals and the major land use in Ayer Hitam. adjacent rivers during periods of high rainfall. This will have

56 PEATLANDS International 2/2011

Figure 6: Man made canal in Ayer Hitam.

Figure 4: Average monthly rainfall for nine years at the Pagoh Agriculture Station, approximately 10 km from Ayer Hitam. Data: Malaysian Meteorological Department

3

Figure 7: Land excavation is one of the threats to the Ayer Hitam Figure 5: Mean water quality concentration at Ayer Hitam in 2011. Forest Reserve. 3

a detrimental affect on aquatic changed, either through natural the State Government to protect and organisms. processes or human interventions. conserve the last peat swamp forest In most cases human intervention in Johore. Discussion and Conclusion leads to irreversible damage to the ecosystem, especially sensitive As the possibly conversion rate of The impact of the artificial drainage ecosystems such as peat swamp the peat swamp forest to other land pattern on the ecology of the Ayer forests. uses is projected to be 6% every Hitam peat swamp forest has yet year, 222 ha of Ayer Hitam will be to be assessed systematically, but it Ayer Hitam needs to be restored converted annually, taking only seems that the impact of continuous to maintain its socio-economic, 16 years for the entire ecosystem to draining is profound with more areas ecological and hydrological functions disappear, unless immediate actions of primary peat swamp subject to fire and services. An integrated are taken to restore and protect during dry periods. restoration plan should be it. For this reason, stakeholders, formulated and implemented. If the including the Forestry Department Forest and peat fires are a major area continues to be converted for (FD), Drainage and Irrigation threat to peatland ecosystems by agriculture, the water table will be Department (DID) and State removing large amounts of organic further lowered, resulting in massive Economic Planning Unit (UPEN), matter and nutrients from the drying up and peat subsidence. have put their concerted effort into ecosystem. In addition, the upper keeping the forest intact. Wetlands peat layers are burned and the This situation makes the area highly International has been appointed as organic residues later eroded away susceptible to fires that will inflict technical advisor to this initative. during rainfall, adversely affecting irreversible damage to its ecological the water quality in adjacent streams functions. A long term ecological and rivers. Surface runoff flows monitoring programme is crucial in Marryanna Lion, Shamsuddin unimpeded into nearby canals and the area in order to gather data on Ibrahim and Abd Rahman Kassim streams. Forest fires in peat swamps these impacts and to understand the Forest Research Institute Malaysia Kepong, 52109 are a very good indicator that the effects on ecological processes. It is Selangor, Malaysia ecological conditions have been also needed to inform and convince email: [email protected]

57 Lehtopeat – feel the magic of the peat

Text and photos: Heikki Ruha and Hannu Kolunsarka Logo photo: Hannu Hautala Lehtopeat Ltd is a Finnish family business that was founded in 1996 and has been Quality of the peat investigated operating since. The company and effects proven is located in Ähtäri, a small country town in Central The therapy peat of Lehtopeat is Finland, and it is specialized in extracted from the natural layers of manufacturing therapy peat the Lehtosuo mire located in Ähtäri, also known as treatment peat. as a combination of peat and mire whole body, because it flows deep water. Before the peat was used for within its muscles. According to CEO Heikki Ruha, the therapy purposes, the peat layers goal of Lehtopeat is to offer natural and peat types were studied carefully The most important effective alternatives to skin and body well- by geologist Riitta Korhonen from ingredients of the peat are humic being and care in a world where the Geological Survey of Finland. acids with 28.5% and fulvo acids most of the available products are Chemical and physical properties, with a share of 10%. In addition, saturated by all kind of additives. heat retention capacity and 33 peat contains many skin conditioning Lehtopeat does not only manufacture trace elements were tested in the substances, such as iron, copper, and sell peat products to its laboratory. The peat of Lehtosuo magnesium, manganese and customers, but offers also a wide mire has a very high content of humic zinc. The therapeutic effects of range of treatments to them. These acids and heat retention capacity. Lehtopeat’s therapy peat have been unique treatments are developed by The decomposition of the peat is H8 studied and tested by different Heikki and his brother. according to the von Post H1-H10 organisations. Furthermore, the scale. company has been working in co- Maybe the most groundbreaking operation with Finnish doctors day was when they came up with Only well decomposed peat is and hospitals in an effort to test the idea of using peat in massage accepted as raw material for the peat the effectiveness of its peat in treatments. The company’s driving products. Lehtopeat does not use dermatology care. For instance, idea has always been indeed to any additives in its peat, so that the Ainoklinikat and Hiusakatemia have develop treatments in which the final products are 100% natural. The successfully cooperated with the therapeutic effects of the peat can be raw material for the therapy peat company. brought out the best possible way. In is extracted with great respect and fact, the health effects of peat were by honouring nature; without the Both, Lehtopeat therapy peat the main reason why the brothers use of any heavy machinery. Against and its treatment methods have started the company. common beliefs, this harvesting been developed by the company process does not cause the peat itself, with more than 15 years of A few of resources to diminish but allows experience in both selling products Lehtopeat’s products. the formation of new peat without and giving different types of peat interruption. In this case, peat is treatments. This long tradition definitely a renewable resource. guarantees that whenever a customer will enter a Lehtopeat The effects of Lehtopeat therapy peat natural product shop or salon he or products are based on the biological she will be greeted with high-quality components of the peat. In addition, and professional service. its heat retention capacity has a significant part in the therapeutic Lehtopeat is a registered trade functions and healing processes of mark and has been rewarded with the peat. According to Heikki Ruha, the permission to use the Finnish the peat’s ability to store heat is Key Flag Logo. This is an honorary amazing, making it an excellent tool mention as access to the logo is to be used in massaging. The heat granted only for those companies guarantees a total relaxation of the which, by their own work, contribute

58 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 to the export of Finnish know-how, in bathtub is other words, for Finnish brands to be required in Heikki Ruha shipped to the world. which a person applying a peat can be sunk treatment. Increasing sales internationally into so that the product can According to Heikki Ruha, spread all over Lehtopeat’s therapy peat is already the body. This sold abroad to some extent. is not the case However, the company’s long with Lehtopeat term plans include a significant treatments. increase in the volume of overseas Instead, they sales, for instance by searching offer ready to new distributors for Lehtopeat’s use product products. The current focus of packages growth is targeted to Belgium, France which make and the Netherlands. Worldwide, it possible Lehtopeat is exporting its products, to execute for instance, to Japan and Russia. successful full body treatments even types of dermatology problems. The possibilities of an expansion to in the comfort of your own home. Basically the treatments are suitable the Chinese market are currently One significant difference is also that for everyone despite their physical being investigated. Further sales to a truly Finnish tradition is strongly condition. The only exception are Scandinavia are also included in the attached to the products: the use of people with heart problems, they company’s future plans. a sauna. are not recommended to have a heat peat massage. Training for new distributors The use of therapy peat in massage treatments Products for every use In Finland, Lehtopeat is training new companies and businesses in Lehtopeat Ltd. is an innovative Lehtopeat Ltd. has a quite extensive the secrets of giving threrapy peat company when it comes to the use of range of products, starting from treatments, such as spas and beauty peat as a tool in massage treatments. facial washes and shampoos and salons. In the future, it becomes Its treatment methods are ground- continuing via face masks and sauna possible also for international breaking in Finland as well as treatments to peat products that distributors to receive such trainings. worldwide and, as described above, are suitable for use in massage This will possibly be taking place studied and tested thoroughly. treatments. All of them are in the Netherlands and in Belgium, manufactured from peat or mire where the company will invest also Peat can be used for half as well water or from a combination of heavily in product marketing and as full body treatments. The best these two sources. More information raising awareness. The company has aspects of therapy peat are shown on the products and their areas of the capacity to export products and when it is heated to about 40 application can be found at train distributors worldwide, so all degrees before being spread to www.lehtopeat.fi. new contacts are very welcome. the wanted area of the body. This affects especially the deep muscles Heikki Ruha welcomes all who are Different from traditional peat of the body, the set of muscles that interested in Lehtopeat’s products treatments in Central Europe is often left outside of the impact and treatments to contact the area of traditional massage methods. company without hesitation and with Most of us, or at least the female Hence therapy peat treatments and an open mind. Help us to spread readers of this article, have come massages relax the whole body. the wonderful magic of Lehtopeat’s across some sort of peat treatment mire producs and give people the or mud bath at some point in their Heated peat also has, according to possibility of experiencing the magic life, trough their own experience, Heikki Ruha, other kinds of health of the peat. through television or other type of and pharmaceutical effects which media. CEO Heikki Ruha explains the include improved blood circulation main difference between Lehtopeat’s to the surface skin, improvement of Lehtopeat Ltd. products and treatments to other metabolism, help with removal of Heikki Ruha mobile: +358 40 026 7401 similar peat products and methods various toxins from the human body email: [email protected] on the European market: and also different hormonal effects. It www.lehtopeat.com has been shown that peat has similar The traditional way of thinking is skin calming effect as cortisone, Hannu Kolunsarka International Marketing Executive that, when you want to execute hence peat is an option in the case mobile: +358 40 775 9958 a successful peat or mud bath, a of treatment of psoriasis and other

59 Book Review Carbon credits from peatland rewetting

Review: Michael Trepel

of drained peatlands Chapter 3 deals with peatlands and reduces the emissions. climate. First, the carbon cycle and The topic of the book the processes for gas formation are “Carbon Credits From explained. The factors controlling Peatland Rewetting” is gas formation and exchange with how to put this good idea the atmosphere are discussed. Here, into practice. as in all other parts of the book, the scientific knowledge presented is This book presents always up-to-date and knowledge the results of an gaps are identified. The methods for implementation project measuring gas emissions in peatlands entitled “Restoring are introduced. The text box peatlands and applying explaining how to calculate the global concepts for sustainable warming potential of a peatland site management in Belarus – is especially valuable for students climate change mitigation and scientists who want to carry out Tanneberger, F. and with economic and biodiversity similar calculations for other sites. Wichtmann, W. (eds.): Carbon benefits” – a large-scale nationwide However, this box also addresses credits from peatland rewetting experiment in peatland rewetting. decision makers and politicians, who - Climate - biodiversity - land The goal of the project was to test, can learn from it that the calculations use. Schweizerbart Science with the help of the project partners, behind the global warming potential Publisher Stuttgart 2011. 224 p. whether it is possible to rewet data are transparent and reliable. English edition: ISBN 978-3- Belarusian peatlands and achieve 510-65271-6; Russian edition: economic and ecological benefits For calculations of the global ISBN 978-3-510-65272-3. from this activity. warming potential of a site or of the peatlands within large regions, Emissions from drained peatlands The book is written for scientists proxies which are related to the contribute significantly to global and decision makers, as well as factors controlling gas formation warming. In the last century, there for climate change politicians and are needed. The vegetation is such was large-scale drainage of peatlands peatland site managers. There are a proxy because vegetation forms for land reclamation in most ten chapters. The introduction and integrate, within their species countries. These areas were used for foreword elucidate the societal composition, the site conditions and agricultural and forestry purposes relevance of peatland rewetting as a especially water levels. For many and partly for peat extraction. mitigation activity in climate change vegetation forms, gas emission However, the environmental impact policy. Chapter 2 describes the measurements are available from the caused by draining and land use situation of peatlands in Belarus. literature. change was either not known or neglected. Especially in the last two With 14.2% of the state area The GEST (Greenhouse Gas Emission decades we have observed globally occupied by peatlands, Belarus Site Type) approach connects increasing awareness of global belongs to the sub-set of countries the available emission data with change issues and, through research, that are very rich in peatland. These vegetation forms and makes them increased our knowledge of land use areas were used for agriculture over available for calculations of the induced emissions. Society debates long time spans and were to a large global warming potential of sites on methods to mitigate and adapt to extent systematically drained in the where no measurements are climate change. period 1960 - 1970s. Key terms (e.g. available. Using ecological knowledge mire, peatland) and other important on vegetation succession with or While peatlands cover only 3% of the concepts are explained in separate without rewetting, it is possible to land surface, they are responsible for text boxes and enable the reader predict the development of global

6% of the global anthropogenic CO2 not only to use each chapter as a warming potential for sites over a emissions. Peatlands in Southeast reference for its specific topic, but longer time span. The effect of a Asia, Central and Eastern Europe are also to use the whole book as a rewetting measure on the reduction amongst the well known hot spots. textbook on peatland ecology and of global warming potential can be It is also well known that rewetting management. quantified.

60 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Chapter 4 discusses the biodiversity these ideas were put into practice research and monitoring activities values of Belarusian peatlands. The with voluntary emission reduction in rewetted peatlands. Gaps in Aquatic warbler is introduced as an projects is presented at the end of the GEST model are identified. For umbrella species for biodiversity this chapter. some vegetation types (e.g. some targets in peatland restoration. abandoned fields and fallows) no 47.9% of the European breeding pairs Chapter 6 discusses land use options emission data are available for many are estimated to breed in Belarus. for rewetted peatlands. Paludiculture other calibration measurements. The An up-to-date review summarizes is introduced as an economically recommended monitoring activities current knowledge and data on feasible land use for peatlands with are easily transferable to other sites peatland rewetting and its effect high water level. Land use options and make this part again also very on biodiversity. From this review, include agricultural, industrial and helpful to other peatland managers. monitoring strategies are developed energy uses. Using wet peatlands for an assessment of restoration has many environmental benefits Chapter 10 acknowledges the measures on flora and fauna. This including lower global warming partners and authors who part of the book is very valuable for potential and higher biodiversity contributed to this successful project site managers who want to know when compared to drained peat and publication. and measure the effects of their soils. activities. This book is an excellent example Chapter 7 introduces the partners how to combine basic and applied Chapter 5 is entitled Driving forces involved in this research and research in environmental science and funding options. Behind these implementation project, and with decision making and policy. mysterious words the reader gets presents the criteria for site The results are all presented in information on legal obligations selection for rewetting. Next to clear language, calculations and for peatland restoration in Belarus climate and biodiversity actions, methods are transparent. This and is informed first-hand about policy actions, capacity building and book forms a basis for sustainable activities carried out in order to make communication, and awareness decision-making and policy. global conventions aware of climate raising were important parts of the Schweizerbart Science publishers change mitigation in peatlands. This project. The lessons learnt during the are especially acknowledged that part describes the long and winding project are summarized at the end they have published English and road taken to get peatlands better of the chapter and are of interest for Russian editions at the same time. recognized in global conventions any peatland manager or decision The books can be ordered at www. and restoration activities included as maker. schweizerbart.de/9783510652716. regular measures in the protocols. One option is to sell peatland Chapter 8 describes the practical Dr. Michael Trepel rewetting, on either the voluntary or rewetting examples carried out Schleswig Holstein State Agency for Agriculture, Environment and the compliance carbon market; both during the project at seven sites. Rural Areas, Kiel, Germany options are discussed in detail. How Chapter 9 recommends further email: [email protected]

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61 Famous Estonian conductor in peat

Text: Nick van de Griendt Photos: Tiit Mõtus

in The Hague. Amongst the guests at the reception for the handover session were the Estonian Minister of Culture, Mr. Rein Lang, several ambassadors and also IPS Executive Board member Erki Niitlaan. The sculpture can be seen when you attend a concert at the Estonia Concert House in Tallinn. More Peatart will be exhibited in Stockholm during the IPS 2012 Congress.

Nick van de Griendt email: [email protected]

In Tallinn, prior to the opening of the Neeme Järvi has 85th season of the Estonian National been working for Symphony Orchestra, there was many years in the a small celebration. Neeme Järvi, USA, Sweden and the new chief conductor, received the Netherlands. his bust made from Estonian peat Lately as maestro from Nick A. van de Griendt, made chief conductor of by the artist Dioni ten Busschen. the Residentieorkest

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62 www.peatart.com New IPS Members

We welcome the following individual persons, institutes, companies, non-government organisations and/or their representatives as new IPS members. Updates in their membership lists are provided by our National Committees as soon as they occur or at least at the end of each year on request of the IPS Secretariat (status 20 December 2011).

Corporate Members (Ryd Torv), Ulla Kindfors (Hasselfors Individual Members Garden AB), Anders Kroon Canada: Lynn Hurdman (Northstar (Södra Skogsenergi AB), Seved Australia: William L. Mayo Multicorp Inc.) Lycksell (Skellefteå Kraft AB), Tord Finland: Teija Hakalahti-Sirén, France: Jean-Pascal Chupin Magnusson (SLU), Stefan Östlund, Noora Huotari, Annalea Lohila, (Florentaise), Philip Delaney Andreas Oscarsson, Hanna Liisa Ojala, Jaakko Soikkeli, (Dumona), Stéphane Drouet Runestad (Neova AB), Claes Rülcker Helena Äijö (Eurotourbes), Anne-Claire Godet (TorvForsk), Georg Sfiris (Göteborg The Netherlands: L. Moria (Falienor), Laurent Largant (CAS) as Energi AB) Sweden: Gunilla Öberg members directly associated with United Kingdom: Greta Dargie, the IPS Secretariat Student Members Mark Harrison, Adam McAleern Sweden: Eva Andersson (Econova Garden AB / Weibulls AB), Markus Canada: Maara S. Packalen, Hassinen (Vapo Oy), Bent Jensen University of Toronto

If you would like to join the International Peat Society, please contact the National Committee in your country (addresses at www.peatsociety.org) or fill in the membership application below.

Membership Application Form

Hereby I apply for membership in the International Peat Society. Please forward my application to the National Committee in my country (Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States, differing membership fees) or accept me as member associated with the IPS Secretariat in countries without an IPS National Committee (e.g. annual fee € 45 individual, € 265 organsations, € 22 student members in 2011). Further details and an online application form can be found at www.peatsociety.org/join-us.

O individual O corporate O research institute O government institute O student

Name:

Organisation:

Address:

E-mail:

Phone: Fax:

GSM: Website: send to: IPS Secretariat, Vapaudenkatu 12, 40100 Jyväskylä, Finland, Finland, 12, 40100 Jyväskylä, send to: IPS Secretariat, Vapaudenkatu +358 14 3384 410, e-mail: [email protected] Fax: Place, date: Signature:

63 Future IPS Meetings and Symposia

IPS Commission VII: Nordic Water 2012 Catchment Restoration and Water Protection XXVII Nordic Hydrological Conference Oulu, Finland, 13 - 15 August 2012 More info: http://nhc2012.oulu.fi

German Peat Society (DGMT) Mires and their catchment areas German Peat Society (DGMT) Schorfheide-Chorin, Werbellinsee, Germany Peloid therapy in outpatient and inpatient 6 - 8 September 2012 medical care – expiricism and evidence More info: www.dmtev.de Hattingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, 9 - 10 March 2012 More info: www.dmtev.de Mires and peat as a raw material GeoHanover 2012 German Peat Society (DGMT) Hanover, Germany, 1 - 3 October 2012 Seminar and Excursion on Peat and Peatlands More info: www.dgmtev.de Zeven, Rotenburg/Wümme, spring 2012 More info: www.dmtev.de German Peat and Humus Day Bad Zwischenahn, 18 October 2012 14th International Peat Congress More info: www.ivg.org Peatlands in Balance Stockholm, Sweden IPS Commission VII: 3 - 8 June 2012 International conference of the LIFE Project SEMEAU More info: www.ipc2012.se How to combine Forest Management, Local Development and Protection of Surface and German Peat Society (DGMT) Groundwater Rewetting of Raised Bogs II France, October 2012 Schneverdingen, Germany, 27 - 28 June 2012 More info: www.life-semeau.eu More info: www.dmtev.de ISHS-IPS “International Symposium on Growing Media Estonian Peat Society and Soilless Cultivation” Baltic Peat Forum 2012 Delft, the Netherlands, 17 - 21 June 2013 More info: www.turbaliit.ee More info: www.grosci2013.nl

Finnish National Committee Meetings and excursions 2012 Last minute updates will be provided also at More info: www.suoseura.fi www.facebook.com/peatsociety. Events of related organisations

International conference Fuels of the Future 2012 AEBIOM Focus 2012: EU legislation, sustainable Berlin, Germany, 23 - 24 January 2012 feedstock supply and market opportunities” More info: www.fuels-of-the-future.com Brussels, Belgium, 25-26 June 2012 More info: www.aebiom.org European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly Vienna, Austria, 22 - 27 April 2012 World Bioenergy Conference More info: www.meetings.copernicus.org/egu2012 Jönköping, Sweden, 29 - 31 May 2012 More info: www.elmia.se 9th INTECOL Wetlands Conference Wetlands in a Complex World Joint BES IUCN Symposium 2012 Orlando, Florida, USA, 3 - 8 June 2012 Bangor University, United Kingdom, 26 - 28 June 2012 More info: www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/intecol More info: www.tiny.cc/r5l51

A frequently updated list of IPS events and symposia of related organisations is posted at www.peatsociety.org. To inform us about future happenings of interest for IPS members, please contact [email protected].

64 PEATLANDS International 2/2011 Schiedam - Nederland tel. (+31) 10 426 76 66 e-mail: [email protected] www.bolpeat.com The Proven Safe and Effective Wetting Agent for all Substrates & Growing Media

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