Natural peatlands are quite sensitive ecosystems, or, more specifically, terrestrial wetland ecosystems. Their naturally water-logged conditions, on the one hand, prevent plant material from fully decomposing, which means peatlands produce more organic matter than they decompose.
Undrained peatlands accumulate Carbon and, in the long run, sequester Carbon. Those acted as “CO2 sinks for millennia, exerting a global climate cooling effect”. However, peatlands have been drained for decades (or even centuries) for many reasons and, thus, are not acting as the globally significant carbon sinks they are supposed to be.
Natural Peatlands in the Soomaa National Park
Restoring the ‘original’ peatland conditions or rewetting formerly drained peatlands are two possibilities to bring back the function and (one) important ecosystem service. Under the ALFAwetlands umbrella, the Estonian Living Lab investigates several peatlands and monitors their rewetting and restoration progress.
Two chosen sites are in the Soomaa National Park in South-western Estonia. Although it is not being the largest national park in Estonia by area, it is very well known for its ‘fifth season’ floods and home to extensive bogs, rivers and meadows. Aside from being attractive for nature lovers and canoe tourists, it offers great research opportunities for wildlife habitations (watch out for lynxes!) and, as for ALFAwetlands, monitors wetland restoration efforts.
So what, why this National park?
In Soomaa, the Estonian team, together with the project partners, may investigate the changes in Carbon accumulation and severe biodiversity and ecosystem services. ‘So what, why this National park?’ the reader may ask. Well, this area’s (research) potential was discovered a long time ago, and thus, we have the excellent opportunity to compare previous studies with current ones. In Soomaa, intensive greenhouse gas monitoring took place 15 years ago, and we got the chance to compare earlier results with the current one. Furthermore, raised knowledge and improved technologies allow us to investigate even more detail, longer, and with extended expertise from the University of Tartu and all ALFAwetland’s partners.
In principle, there are two natural peatlands located in Soomaa and investigated within ALFAwetlands: Our study site in Kuresoo is a hollow-ridge bog subtype, drainage ditches were blocked to allow an almost ‘nature-like’ restoration, and, in that sense, rewetting of sites. Hollow and hummock areas are monitored for GHG, temperature and humidity conditions. Valegraba is our second study site in Soomaa, and a more mesotrophic bog forest site, practically situated on the tree trunks from former clear-cutting decades ago (Fig. 03).
Previous studies on that site recommended improving the carbon balance estimation, including Carbon uptake by photosynthesis and taking the microbial community compositions into account.
Nevertheless, this is about natural peatlands in Estonia only, and managed peatlands, particularly former peat extraction areas that are also investigated, will be described in another post, so please stay tuned!