Restoration
Different Peatland types of peatlands
Bogs-Poor Fens acid peat deposits with no to little significant inflow and outflow of surface or ground water
Fens Open peatland systems significant drainage from surrounding mineral soils and groundwater
Peatland classification Hydrology (origin of water)
*Ombrogenous Only Precipitation *Geogenous Outside water influences ---Limnogenous slow moving streams and lakes ---Topogenous topographic depressions some regional groundwater flow ---Soligenous regional interflow & surface runoff
Causes of peatland losses in the non-tropical world non1000 km2 Agriculture 250 Forestry 150 Peat extraction 50 Urbanization 20 Inundation 15 Indirect losses (erosion, other) 5 Total 490 % 50 30 10 5 3 1 100
(Data from Wise Use of Peatlands 2002).
Photo from Finland by J. Pivnen iv
Photo from Ireland by Bord na Mna
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Peat Mining
Peat Mining in Minnesota
"What the public perception is sometimes, is that this is a large, just a big hole that's left there, which is actually not the case," said Johnson. "The research has shown that you can restore these areas back to functional wetlands, and actually to the same type of peatland as they once were."
Restoration Issues-Hydrology
Peatlands are normally drained Disappearance of acrotelm Changes in pore space and hydraulic conductivity Lower and more variable wt levels
MN Public Radio interview, January 14, 2004
Surface Topography
Patrick Faubert, 2004
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Restoration Issues-Soils
Peat surface becomes very dry and can become hydrophobic Physical properties of peat are altered Peat forms impenetrable crusts Removal of peat by extraction, subsidence oxidation and (acrotelm is removed) Peat chemistry is usually not altered significantly
Acid Sulfate Soils
Some peatlands (especially coastal) contain acid sulfate material (pyrites). Upon oxidation (from drainage for agriculture, rice, forestry, roads, ponds) they release sulphuric acid. pH can drop below 3 and have severe implications for plants and fish. Very difficult to restore (see work by E. Maltby)
Restoration Issues-Vegetation
Vegetation is removed Typically no seed banks Seed sources are usually not close by Soils and hydrology are disturbed
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Fen Restoration
Rich Fen Restoration
Restoring the vegetation of mined peatlands in the S. Rocky Mts. Of Colorado, USA. Cooper and MacDonald 2000. Restoration Ecology 8:103-111 Compared vegetation in mined and unmined fens Experimentally seeded, transplanted rhizomes, and willow cuttings along a water table gradient in mined fens
Biodiversity Comparisons
122 species found in unmined fens Only 30 species found in 6 mined fens 13 were invasive...