A road trip to peatland strategies – Insights from the peatland workshop in Budapest
The importance of peatlands in climate change mitigation efforts
The importance of peatlands in climate change mitigation efforts appears undeniable when we consider the substantial amount of carbon trapped in them. Their significance gave the basis of the 'Peatlands as Key Habitats in Climate Mitigation Efforts' workshop held on April 25-26 in Budapest, where stakeholders could discuss various aspects of peatlands relating to their field.
Check out the video recordings* of the valuable presentations held at the workshop or read more about it in this article.
*As the event was bilingual, the presentations are held in both English and Hungarian
The event was organized by CEEweb for Biodiversity with the objective of sharing perspectives and information regarding the role of peatlands and soils in national-level climate mitigation efforts and in science-based emission reduction pathways. The ppt presentations can be found at the end of this article.
Firstly, the work of CEEweb For Biodiversity was introduced by Csaba Mezei (CEEweb) highlighting the celebration of the organization’s 30th anniversary. Followed by an introduction of Ildikó Varga (CEEweb) on existing wetland related policies and the presentation of Eliza Óhegyi (CEEweb) about the “Building the European Peatlands Initiative: A Strong Alliance for Peatland Climate Protection in Europe” interim project results. Subsequently, Wojciech Mroz (Eurosite) provided a comprehensive overview of the peatland-related policies, as well as the LIFE Multi Peat project, as well as the ongoing restoration efforts aimed at preserving peatlands in Poland. The reduction of peat extraction and the legal protection of peatlands with mandatory consideration in environmental impact assessments were pointed out as an important target for peatland protection. Additionally, increasing environmental awareness among farmers is emphasized.
Farmers already experience many challenges due to the changing environmental conditions, therefore one might easily assume that climate change can only have negative effects. However, this is not always the case, as we could hear from Imelda Somodi’s (Centre for Ecological Research) presentation about potential vegetation in different climate change projections. Currently, the climate model (CMIP6) suggests that the yearly average precipitation in Hungary will not decrease, but the driest months are projected to shift from January and February to July and August, posing significant challenges for agriculture. The findings of this research indicate that wetlands are not typically the most climate-sensitive ecosystems, for instance, increased precipitation can even have a positive impact on swamp forests; however, human disturbances are still a threat to them.
Yet the absence of water might be an even bigger threat, therefore understanding the relationship between wetlands and the groundwater flow systems is crucial. Szilvia Szkolnikovics-Simon’s (Eötvös Loránd University) presentation gave the participants an opportunity to see how the flowing groundwater reveals patterns and connections between subsurface aquafers, potentially making certain wetlands more endangered due to their location. For instance, in regions such as Nyírség and the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, groundwater levels have decreased due to factors like overexploitation, canal construction, and afforestation. Although restoration is important, merely attempting to recharge wetlands from subsurface aquifers is not an effective solution if groundwater levels continue to decrease, as this simply results in more water evaporating from the system. Instead, adaptation can happen with different engineering techniques, e.g. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) and nature-based MAR, where the recharge of aquifers takes place.
The region of Nyírség was explored further by Balázs Lesku (Hortobágy National Park Directorate) from the Hortobágy National Park Directorate, affirming that here these unique peatlands already experience droughts and can almost be considered living museums. Besides water deficit, a peatland is susceptible to natural succession, and when degraded, fires are also very common. In addition, given that peatlands cannot exist without peat, Gábor Illés (University of Sopron) provided another specific example, describing their soil inventory research in the Hanság region of Hungary.
The afternoon continued with international examples focusing on peatland protection. Franziska Tanneberger, from the Michael Succow Foundation – Partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre, emphasized the importance of restoration efforts, highlighting Europe as one of the two global peatland GHG emission hotspots. In Germany, historical trends have shown that peatlands were extensively converted into agricultural land due to their perceived high soil productivity, leading to significant loss of peatland area. To address these challenges, she stressed the necessity of a multifaceted approach.
For instance, Andreas Haberl, also from the Micheal Succow Foundation, introduced the concept of paludiculture, which means cultivation of biomass on wet and rewetted peatlands with plant species that contribute to the conservation of peat deposits and ideally to the formation of peat. Paludiculture involves managing agricultural activity on peatlands without drainage, preserving their ecological functions, services, and production. Restoration efforts have already been implemented in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Capacity building and networking are crucial, yet the spread of this method also needs market development, the creation of new products, along new management approaches.
We can observe that peatlands provide numerous ecosystem services, ranging from supporting raw materials to provisioning, such as climate regulation and water supply. Moreover, peatlands can serve as recreational areas, providing cultural ecosystem services. Mihai Adamescu (University of Bucharest) provided insight into how ecosystem services can be utilized as a tool for wetland restoration. He stressed that addressing wetland management requires an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach, recognizing that the active participation of every stakeholder is key to success.
The second-day field program was to the Hanság, located in North-West Hungary, to showcase water retention measures. Gábor Takács and Sándor Tatai from the Fertő-Hanság National Park Directorate guided the participants through the site, sharing valuable information about the rich history of the place. Water regulation, flood management, and afforestation, with also evidence of peat mining observed in the Hosszúdombi peat mine are just some examples of this land’s experiences. Today, the Osli-Hany Wetland Restoration Area serves as a sanctuary for late wetland species, showcasing a successful story of habitat protection. Still, different challenges are faced when protecting habitats, especially when collaborating with private landowners. This is why raising awareness and networking plays a crucial role in conservation and restoration projects.
From the presentations and discussions among attendees, several key suggestions emerged. Firstly, there's an emphasis on utilizing up-to-date soil inventory data and maps for organic soils, changing environmentally harmful policies and developing funding schemes related to peatlands, as well as establishing carbon crediting schemes. Additionally, increasing stakeholder awareness and promoting alternative agricultural methods are all key steps towards improvement.
Lastly, the establishment of national peatland strategies is a must. These strategies would provide a framework for managing and conserving peatlands on a broader scale, ensuring their protection for future generations.
The project “Building the European Peatlands Initiative: a strong alliance for peatland climate protection in Europe” is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI). EUKI is a project financing instrument by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The EUKI competition for project ideas is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. It is the overarching goal of the EUKI to foster climate cooperation within the European Union (EU) in order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
Image gallery
Downloads
- 1. Eliza Óhegyi - EUKI Peatlands (0,14 MB)
- 2. Wojciech Mroz - LIFE Multi Peat (0,67 MB)
- 3. Imelda Somodi-Ákos Bede - Climate change and peatland habitats (0,33 MB)
- 4. Szilvia Simon-Judit Mádlné Szőnyi - Peatlands and groundwater flows (0,52 MB)
- 5. Gábor Illés-Gábor Kovács - Hanság wetland production sites (0,22 MB)
- 6. Balázs Lesku - Raised bogs in Hungarian Great Plain (0,83 MB)
- 7. Franziska Tanneberger - Peatlands in Europe (0,94 MB)
- 8. Andreas Haberl - Paludiculture (0,82 MB)
- 9. Mihai Adamescu - Ecosystem services - Restore4Life (0,41 MB)