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Project title

Natural colonisation of forest on post-industrial peatlands – implications for ecosystem services

Primary Funding Agency

Irish Research Council

Co-Funding Organisation(s)

Environmental Protection Agency

Lead Organisation

Maynooth University (MU)

Lead Applicant

Meshack Obebo Moranga

Project Abstract

Globally, wetland ecosystems make a disproportionally high contribution to ecosystem services. The global monetary value of natural wetland ecosystem services is now estimated at $47.4 trillion per year. Yet, almost 50% of all wetlands globally have been lost or degraded since 1900 due to human activities. Ireland’s intact peatland area has declined from 1,200,000 hectares to approximately 100,000 hectares in the last century, primarily due to industrial scale harvesting of peat. However, the last two decades has seen increased recognition of the need to conserve and rehabilitate peatlands in Ireland, and particularly to restore their status as a carbon sink to aid climate change mitigation efforts. Indeed, Bord Na Mona, a semi-state energy and horticulture company and principal manager of cutaway peatland in Ireland, recently announced the cessation of peat extraction and the initiation of bog restoration and rehabilitation. In many post-industrial peatland areas, degraded bog ecosystems can rapidly transition to wooded landscapes following the colonization of fastgrowing native deciduous tree species such as birch (Betula spp.) and willow (Salix spp.). The overarching aim of this project is to assess how the natural development of native forest on post-industrial peatlands impacts ecosystem service provision. Using meta-analysis, this project will assess whether there are consistent global trends in how peatland restoration impacts ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and water quality. Secondly, Earth Observation techniques will be used to quantify the area of natural forest development on post-industrial peatlands in Ireland over the last two decades. In a field-study, the project will assess how forest development impacts carbon pools and biodiversity in post-industrial peatlands. Finally, in a glasshouse study, the soil characteristics associated with the germination and growth of birch forests on post-industrial peatlands in Ireland will be determined. Ultimately, this project will inform future peatland restoration and rehabilitation approaches.

Grant Approved

�110,000.00

Research Hub

Natural Environment

Research Theme

n/a

Start Date

01/09/2022

Initial Projected Completion Date

31/08/2026