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Christiani P, Rana P, Räsänen A, Pitkänen TP, Tolvanen A. Detecting Spatial Patterns of Peatland Greenhouse Gas Sinks and Sources with Geospatial Environmental and Remote Sensing Data. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 74:461-478. [PMID: 38563987 PMCID: PMC11306394 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-01965-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Peatlands play a key role in the circulation of the main greenhouse gases (GHG) - methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Therefore, detecting the spatial pattern of GHG sinks and sources in peatlands is pivotal for guiding effective climate change mitigation in the land use sector. While geospatial environmental data, which provide detailed spatial information on ecosystems and land use, offer valuable insights into GHG sinks and sources, the potential of directly using remote sensing data from satellites remains largely unexplored. We predicted the spatial distribution of three major GHGs (CH4, CO2, and N2O) sinks and sources across Finland. Utilizing 143 field measurements, we compared the predictive capacity of three different data sets with MaxEnt machine-learning modeling: (1) geospatial environmental data including climate, topography and habitat variables, (2) remote sensing data (Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2), and (3) a combination of both. The combined dataset yielded the highest accuracy with an average test area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.845 and AUC stability of 0.928. A slightly lower accuracy was achieved using only geospatial environmental data (test AUC 0.810, stability AUC 0.924). In contrast, using only remote sensing data resulted in reduced predictive accuracy (test AUC 0.763, stability AUC 0.927). Our results suggest that (1) reliable estimates of GHG sinks and sources cannot be produced with remote sensing data only and (2) integrating multiple data sources is recommended to achieve accurate and realistic predictions of GHG spatial patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Parvez Rana
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Oulu, Finland
| | - Aleksi Räsänen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Oulu, Finland
| | - Timo P Pitkänen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anne Tolvanen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Oulu, Finland
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Rana P, Christiani P, Ahtikoski A, Haikarainen S, Stenberg L, Juutinen A, Tolvanen A. Cost-efficient management of peatland to enhance biodiversity in Finland. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2489. [PMID: 38291097 PMCID: PMC10827728 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52964-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Peatlands provide a variety of ecosystem services besides being important ecosystems for biodiversity. Sustainable peatland management requires that its impacts are identified, and all management is allocated in a cost-efficient manner. In this study, we assessed how peatland management influences the habitat suitability of red-listed plant species and the financial performance of management measured as net present value (NPV). The study was done in three landscapes in Finland. We considered four peatland management scenarios i.e., no management activity (NOMANAGE), hydrological restoration (REST), wood harvesting for bioenergy (BIOENERGY), and timber production (TIMBER). The NPVs of different management scenarios were compared to the habitat suitability of red-listed peatland plant species. A cost-impact analysis was used, with TIMBER as a baseline scenario, to find out which alternative scenario would be the most cost-efficient in contributing to habitat suitability. Our study shows that potential habitat areas were significantly different between the scenarios. REST provided the largest potential habitat areas, followed by BIOENERGY, NOMANAGE, and TIMBER. TIMBER provided the best financial performance when low interest rates were used. REST and BIOENERGY were more cost-efficient in enhancing potential habitat areas than NOMANAGE. REST would improve suitable habitats and provide financial benefits when a higher interest rate was used. In conclusion, even a win-win condition could be achieved in some cases (33%), in which higher NPV was achieved simultaneously with improved potential habitat areas. The study provides information for alleviating the economic barriers of restoration and targeting land use and management options cost-efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parvez Rana
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Oulu, Finland.
| | | | | | | | | | - Artti Juutinen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Oulu, Finland
| | - Anne Tolvanen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Oulu, Finland
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Räsänen A, Albrecht E, Annala M, Aro L, Laine AM, Maanavilja L, Mustajoki J, Ronkanen AK, Silvan N, Tarvainen O, Tolvanen A. After-use of peat extraction sites - A systematic review of biodiversity, climate, hydrological and social impacts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 882:163583. [PMID: 37086986 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
After drainage for forestry and agriculture, peat extraction is one of the most important causes of peatland degradation. When peat extraction is ceased, multiple after-use options exist, including abandonment, restoration, and replacement (e.g., forestry and agricultural use). However, there is a lack of a global synthesis of after-use research. Through a systematic review of 356 peer-reviewed scientific articles, we address this research gap and examine (1) what after-use options have been studied, (2) what the studied and recognized impacts of the after-use options are, and (3) what one can learn in terms of best practices and research gaps. The research has concentrated on the impacts of restoration (N = 162), abandonment (N = 72), and replacement (N = 94), the latter of which consists of afforestation (N = 46), cultivation (N = 34) and creation of water bodies (N = 14). The studies on abandonment, restoration, and creation of water bodies have focused mostly on analyzing vegetation and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes, while the studies assessing afforestation and cultivation sites mostly evaluate the provisioning ecosystem services. The studies show that active restoration measures speed-up vegetation recolonization on bare peat areas, reduce GHG emissions and decrease negative impacts on water systems. The most notable research gap is the lack of studies comparing the environmental and social impacts of the after-use options. Additionally, there is a lack of studies focusing on social impacts and downstream hydrology, as well as long-term monitoring of GHG fluxes. Based on the reviewed studies, a comparison of the impacts of the after-use options is not straightforward. We emphasize a need for comparative empirical research in the extracted sites with a broad socio-ecological and geographical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksi Räsänen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Oulu, Finland.
| | - Eerika Albrecht
- University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland; Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), Joensuu, Finland
| | - Mari Annala
- Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), Oulu, Finland
| | - Lasse Aro
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Turku, Finland
| | | | | | | | | | - Niko Silvan
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Tampere, Finland
| | - Oili Tarvainen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Oulu, Finland
| | - Anne Tolvanen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Oulu, Finland
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Tarvainen O, Hökkä H, Kumpula J, Tolvanen A. Bringing back reindeer pastures in cutaway peatlands. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oili Tarvainen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) , Paavo Havaksen tie 3 FI‐90570 Oulu Finland
| | - Hannu Hökkä
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) , Paavo Havaksen tie 3 FI‐90570 Oulu Finland
| | - Jouko Kumpula
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) , Saarikoskentie 8, 99870 Inari Finland
| | - Anne Tolvanen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) , Paavo Havaksen tie 3 FI‐90570 Oulu Finland
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Carrick PJ, Forsythe KJ. The species composition-ecosystem function relationship: A global meta-analysis using data from intact and recovering ecosystems. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236550. [PMID: 32730290 PMCID: PMC7392319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The idea that biodiversity is necessary in order for ecosystems to function properly has long been used as a basic argument for the conservation of species, and has led to an abundance of research exploring the relationships between species richness and ecosystem function. Here we present a meta-analysis of global ecosystems using the Bray-Curtis index to explore more complex changes in the species composition of natural ecosystems, and their relationship with ecosystem functions. By using data recorded, firstly in reference sites and secondly in recovering sites, captured in restoration ecology studies, we pose the following questions: Firstly, how much variation is there in species composition and in ecosystem function in an intact ecosystem? Secondly, once an ecosystem has become degraded, is there a general relationship between its recovery in species composition and its recovery in ecosystem function? Thirdly, is this relationship the same for all types of ecosystem functions? Data from 21 studies yielded 478 comparisons of mean values for ecosystems. On Average, sites within the same intact natural ecosystems shared only a 48% similarity in species composition but were 69% similar in ecosystem functioning. In recovering ecosystems the relationship between species composition and ecosystem function was weak and saturating (directly accounting for only 2% of the variation). Only two of the six types of ecosystem function examined, biomass and biotic structure, showed a significant relationship with species composition, and the three types that measured soil functions showed no significant relationship. To date, most biodiversity-ecosystem function (BEF) research has been conducted in simplified ecosystems using the simple species richness metric. This study encourages a broader examination of the drivers of ecosystem functions under realistic scenarios of biodiversity change, and highlights the need to properly account for the extensive natural variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Carrick
- Plant Conservation Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Katherine J. Forsythe
- Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
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Purre AH, Ilomets M. Relationships between bryophyte production and substrate properties in restored milled peatlands. Restor Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Helena Purre
- School of Natural Sciences and Health; Tallinn University, Narva Road 29; 10120 Tallinn Estonia
| | - Mati Ilomets
- Institute of Ecology; Tallinn University, Uus-Sadama 5; 10120 Tallinn Estonia
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Wilson D, Farrell CA, Fallon D, Moser G, Müller C, Renou-Wilson F. Multiyear greenhouse gas balances at a rewetted temperate peatland. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2016; 22:4080-4095. [PMID: 27099183 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Drained peat soils are a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. Rewetting these soils is considered an important climate change mitigation tool to reduce emissions and create suitable conditions for carbon sequestration. Long-term monitoring is essential to capture interannual variations in GHG emissions and associated environmental variables and to reduce the uncertainty linked with GHG emission factor calculations. In this study, we present GHG balances: carbon dioxide (CO2 ), methane (CH4 ) and nitrous oxide (N2 O) calculated for a 5-year period at a rewetted industrial cutaway peatland in Ireland (rewetted 7 years prior to the start of the study); and compare the results with an adjacent drained area (2-year data set), and with ten long-term data sets from intact (i.e. undrained) peatlands in temperate and boreal regions. In the rewetted site, CO2 exchange (or net ecosystem exchange (NEE)) was strongly influenced by ecosystem respiration (Reco ) rather than gross primary production (GPP). CH4 emissions were related to soil temperature and either water table level or plant biomass. N2 O emissions were not detected in either drained or rewetted sites. Rewetting reduced CO2 emissions in unvegetated areas by approximately 50%. When upscaled to the ecosystem level, the emission factors (calculated as 5-year mean of annual balances) for the rewetted site were (±SD) -104 ± 80 g CO2 -C m-2 yr-1 (i.e. CO2 sink) and 9 ± 2 g CH4 -C m-2 yr-1 (i.e. CH4 source). Nearly a decade after rewetting, the GHG balance (100-year global warming potential) had reduced noticeably (i.e. less warming) in comparison with the drained site but was still higher than comparative intact sites. Our results indicate that rewetted sites may be more sensitive to interannual changes in weather conditions than their more resilient intact counterparts and may switch from an annual CO2 sink to a source if triggered by slightly drier conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Wilson
- Earthy Matters Environmental Consultants, Glenvar, Co. Donegal, F92 HX03, Ireland
| | | | | | - Gerald Moser
- Justus Liebig University Giessen, Ludwigstraße 23, 35390, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christoph Müller
- Justus Liebig University Giessen, Ludwigstraße 23, 35390, Giessen, Germany
- University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
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Kareksela S, Haapalehto T, Juutinen R, Matilainen R, Tahvanainen T, Kotiaho JS. Fighting carbon loss of degraded peatlands by jump-starting ecosystem functioning with ecological restoration. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 537:268-276. [PMID: 26282761 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Degradation of ecosystems is a great concern on the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Ecological restoration fights degradation aiming at the recovery of ecosystem functions such as carbon (C) sequestration and ecosystem structures like plant communities responsible for the C sequestration function. We selected 38 pristine, drained and restored boreal peatland sites in Finland and asked i) what is the long-term effect of drainage on the peatland surface layer C storage, ii) can restoration recover ecosystem functioning (surface layer growth) and structure (plant community composition) and iii) is the recovery of the original structure needed for the recovery of ecosystem functions? We found that drainage had resulted in a substantial net loss of C from surface layer of drained sites. Restoration was successful in regaining natural growth rate in the peatland surface layer already within 5 years after restoration. However, the regenerated surface layer sequestered C at a mean rate of 116.3 g m(-2) yr(-1) (SE 12.7), when a comparable short-term rate was 178.2 g m(-2) yr(-1) (SE 13.3) at the pristine sites. The plant community compositions of the restored sites were considerably dissimilar to those of pristine sites still 10 years after restoration. We conclude that ecological restoration can be used to jump-start some key peatland ecosystem functions even without the recovery of original ecosystem structure (plant community composition). However, the re-establishment of other functions like C sequestration may require more profound recovery of conditions and ecosystem structure. We discuss the potential economic value of restored peatland ecosystems from the perspective of their C sequestration function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santtu Kareksela
- University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Finland.
| | - Tuomas Haapalehto
- University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Finland
| | - Riikka Juutinen
- University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Finland
| | - Rose Matilainen
- University of Jyväskylä, Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Finland
| | - Teemu Tahvanainen
- University of Eastern Finland, Department of Biology, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Janne S Kotiaho
- University of Jyväskylä, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Finland; Natural History Museum, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Finland
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Grand-Clement E, Anderson K, Smith D, Angus M, Luscombe DJ, Gatis N, Bray LS, Brazier RE. New approaches to the restoration of shallow marginal peatlands. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2015; 161:417-430. [PMID: 26193762 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Globally, the historic and recent exploitation of peatlands through management practices such as agricultural reclamation, peat harvesting or forestry, have caused extensive damage to these ecosystems. Their value is now increasingly recognised, and restoration and rehabilitation programmes are underway to improve some of the ecosystem services provided by peatlands: blocking drainage ditches in deep peat has been shown to improve the storage of water, decrease carbon losses in the long-term, and improve biodiversity. However, whilst the restoration process has benefitted from experience and technical advice gained from restoration of deep peatlands, shallow peatlands have received less attention in the literature, despite being extensive in both uplands and lowlands. Using the experience gained from the restoration of the shallow peatlands of Exmoor National Park (UK), and two test catchments in particular, this paper provides technical guidance which can be applied to the restoration of other shallow peatlands worldwide. Experience showed that integrating knowledge of the historical environment at the planning stage of restoration was essential, as it enabled the effective mitigation of any threat to archaeological features and sites. The use of bales, commonly employed in other upland ecosystems, was found to be problematic. Instead, 'leaky dams' or wood and peat combination dams were used, which are both more efficient at reducing and diverting the flow, and longer lasting than bale dams. Finally, an average restoration cost (£306 ha(-1)) for Exmoor, below the median national value across the whole of the UK, demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of these techniques. However, local differences in peat depth and ditch characteristics (i.e. length, depth and width) between sites affect both the feasibility and the cost of restoration. Overall, the restoration of shallow peatlands is shown to be technically viable; this paper provides a template for such process over analogous landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Grand-Clement
- Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4RJ, United Kingdom.
| | - K Anderson
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, United Kingdom.
| | - D Smith
- South West Water, Rydon Lane, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7HR, United Kingdom.
| | - M Angus
- South West Water, Rydon Lane, Exeter, Devon, EX2 7HR, United Kingdom.
| | - D J Luscombe
- Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4RJ, United Kingdom.
| | - N Gatis
- Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4RJ, United Kingdom.
| | - L S Bray
- Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9HL, United Kingdom.
| | - R E Brazier
- Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4RJ, United Kingdom.
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Monitoring and evaluating large-scale, ‘open-ended’ habitat creation projects: A journey rather than a destination. J Nat Conserv 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2011.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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