One of the recent scientific articles, released with the support of ALFAwetlands project is the “Air temperature and precipitation constraining the modelled wetland methane emissions in a boreal region in northern Europe”. The article is led by the project partner, Finnish meteorological institute. It provides research based information about the influence of temperature and precipitation on methane emissions from Peatlands in the Boreal Region.
Check out ALFAwetlands recent scientific publications at ZENODO platform: here.
Significance of Methane Emissions from Peatlands
Boreal peatlands represent one of the largest terrestrial carbon stores and play a dual role in the climate system: they sequester carbon through peat accumulation while simultaneously acting as major natural sources of methane (CH₄). Methane emissions originate from anaerobic decomposition in waterlogged peat layers and are particularly sensitive to climatic variables. Understanding how temperature and precipitation interact to regulate these emissions is essential for improving climate projections and for designing effective mitigation strategies in boreal landscapes.
Scientific Approaches to Peatland Methane Assessment
Process-based ecosystem models, including LPX-Bern, JSBACH-HIMMELI, LPJ-GUESS, JULES, CLM4.5, and CLM5, demonstrate that methane emissions in boreal peatlands are co-limited by air temperature and precipitation. Together, these variables explain between 51 % and 91 % of observed emission variance, indicating their combined rather than isolated influence. Seasonal patterns confirm this interaction, with emission peaks occurring between May and September, depending on model configuration. Interestingly, the anomalously warm summer of 2018 did not result in increased methane fluxes, because concurrent precipitation deficits reduced soil moisture, highlighting that elevated temperature alone does not enhance emissions in the absence of sufficient hydrological input. Recent advances in satellite-based monitoring and multisource data integration further enhance the capacity to predict spatial patterns of peatland ecosystem services, including methane fluxes. As demonstrated by Rana et al., spatially explicit assessments allow for more accurate identification of hotspots of ecosystem functioning and can inform large-scale restoration strategies. ALFAwetlands project further promotes and applies these approaches, which provides access to scientific outputs and practical tools for wetland restoration across Europe.
Social Dimension and Community Engagement
While physical and ecological models provide quantitative insights, long-term management of peatland landscapes also depends on socio-cultural factors. Research by Malmborg, Hamilton, and Seiferth emphasizes that place-based identities and the sense of belonging to landscapes can serve as critical drivers for mobilizing local actors in environmental governance. This perspective is particularly relevant in UNESCO-designated sites, where cultural heritage and natural values intersect. Involving communities in monitoring, decision-making, and restoration ensures that scientific data are contextualized within local realities, thereby enhancing the legitimacy and effectiveness of peatland conservation policies.
Conclusion
The regulation of methane emissions from boreal peatlands is therefore best addressed through a dual framework. On the one hand, high-resolution modeling and satellite data provide the scientific basis for predicting emission dynamics under different climatic scenarios. On the other, participatory approaches grounded in local knowledge and cultural identity increase the resilience and acceptance of mitigation strategies. Integrating these perspectives will enable more comprehensive and sustainable peatland management in the context of accelerating climate change.
References
- Aalto, T., et al. (2025). Air temperature and precipitation constraining the modelled wetland methane emissions in a boreal region in northern Europe. Available at: https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/323/2025
- Rana, P., Chowdhury, A. I., Keränen, K., & Balazs, A. (2025). Spatially predicting ecosystem service patterns in boreal drained peatlands forests using multisource satellite data. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S156984322500192X?via%3Dihub
- Malmborg, K., Hamilton, J., & Seiferth, C. (2024). Leveraging place-based identities and senses of belonging to mobilize for action-oriented research in UNESCO sites. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877343525000296.
This post is prepared by Vlado Vancura, European Wilderness Society´s expert.