What have we saved in CO2 (and nature)

It is widely recognised that the restoration and rewetting of peatlands are vital in our battle against climate change and key to achieving the EUs aim of carbon neutral by 2050.  Care-Peat addresses this goal through the reduction of CO₂ emissions and increased C-storage in several EU peatlands by applying innovative restoration techniques. These innovations include transforming drained and grazed peatland pasture in the UK to a Carbon Farm, intensively planted with Sphagnum mosses, to the creation of two peatlands from one in The Netherlands. The latter involves the translocation of a mass of tonnes of peat from a former peat pit, elevated above the regionally-regulated water to a new area of open water retained by stone. This new ‘Foreshore’ area is already being colonised by reeds, and, together with the original peat pit, are both in rapid carbon building phases of development. Peat pits can become GHG pits! In total over 300 ha across 5 peatlands in Belgium, France, Ireland, The Netherlands and the UK have been restored, resulting in a carbon saving around 4000 tCO2/year. In addition, a further 518 ha commenced restoration as part of the capitalisation project and extension of activity in France, Ireland and Wales.

Whilst the focus of Care-Peat has been the reduction of carbon emissions, co-benefits to biodiversity are also evident. In Belgium, unexpected species like Cranes and Spotted Crake have been observed to be foraging in the restored area of Zwarte Beek. For Cranes the valley of Zwarte Beek is the first and only place in Belgium where they have bred (first breeding in 2021). These rewetted grounds now serve as important foraging areas and are needed for ensuring future breeding pairs. Furthermore, many invertebrates, typical for peatlands, were also found during monitoring with pitfalls traps carried out by a Natuurpunt Study. In the UK, the Carbon Farm has begun to be colonised with bog species associated with the adjacent Nature Conservation Site, including Polytrichum commune and Drosera rotundifolia. Bund areas are also being colonised with Calluna vulgaris covering bare peat. Water voles (Arvicola amphibius) and several species of butterflies and dragonflies have also been observed on the pilot site which were not previously found on the grazed pasture.