The degradation of peatlands is particularly worrying. A bog is a wetland with soil composed of peat. This is very poorly decomposed organic matter. For a peat bog to form in a natural environment, there must be saturation of the environment with water for a sufficiently long period as well as sufficient plants.
Did you know that peatlands are natural carbon sinks? As the French biodiversity office explains, “peatlands store much more carbon than forests”. Peatland restoration is therefore vital for the future. These areas have disappeared in particular because of agricultural drainage which transformed these lands for exploitation purposes.
More than 80% of peatlands are dried up in the UK
Today, “89% of French peat habitat areas are in an unfavorable state of conservation (degraded)”, according to the Peat Relay Centre. However, this environment is a true treasure of biodiversity.
The observation is the same abroad. In the United Kingdom, for example, more than 80% of peatlands are damaged and dried out.
Peatland restoration work was therefore launched in England. This will also help save endangered species. Specifically, areas of Stoborough Heath and Salterns Copse near Wareham in the county of Dorset are being rewetted.
The restoration of peatlands will contribute to the survival of threatened species
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, which is the largest organization working for the protection of animals in Europe, is at the origin of this initiative. These areas which were former peat bogs had been drained for agricultural and forestry purposes.
You should know that peatlands are the largest carbon reservoir in the United Kingdom. These areas are also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Among the endangered species that live there, we find in particular zygoptera, also known as damselflies.
Zygoptera look like dragonflies, but they are smaller and their wings are folded when resting. Larger, dragonflies have their four wings spread out on each side of their body at rest.
The Mercury agrion is a particularly rare species of zygoptera that lives in these wetlands. The restoration of peatlands is therefore essential to contribute to the survival of the species.
Peatlands will “actively store more water”
As Grace Herve who leads the project explains, “By blocking all of these drainage systems, not only will we help reduce harmful flooding, but we can also begin to actively store more water in our systems and reconnect landscapes.” “.
To rewet drained areas, leaky dams are constructed using locally sourced wood from trees felled on site. This will allow water to accumulate and stagnate in these areas again.
£1 million to restore these wetlands in one county alone
The first phase of the project, which continues until the end of October, aims to restore 16 peatland sites across the county of Dorset. “More water and plants means a healthier ecosystem, improved biodiversity and the security of our landscapes in the future,” says Grace Herve.
Restoring peatlands should also help mitigate climate change. In total, £1 million has been invested to restore Dorset's peatlands between 2023 and 2025.
Source: BBC
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