Economic opportunities of wetland Economic opportunities of wetland rewetting and paludiculturerewetting and paludiculture

Hans JoostenHans Joosten

Uni-Greifswald: Peatland Studies & Palaeo-ecologyUni-Greifswald: Peatland Studies & Palaeo-ecologyInternational Mire Conservation GroupInternational Mire Conservation Group

Belarus UNFCCC delegationBelarus UNFCCC delegation

Reasons for rewettingReasons for rewetting

For the climateFor the climate Against fire..Against fire.. Because of pumping costsBecause of pumping costs For social reasons…For social reasons…

Fascist demonstration in Amklam 31 July 2010…

Rewetting of peatland is good for the climate More climatic profit can even be made by using

rewetted peatlands for biomass cultivation To replace fossil fuels and fossil raw materials 500,000 km2 of degraded peatlands

PALUDICULTURE !!

Drainage of peatlands for conventional Drainage of peatlands for conventional agriculture, forestry and peat extraction is agriculture, forestry and peat extraction is responsible for 2 Gtons of COresponsible for 2 Gtons of CO2 2 emissions.emissions.

Drained peatlands are increasingly used for Drained peatlands are increasingly used for the production of biofuels. the production of biofuels.

This generally leads to (much) larger COThis generally leads to (much) larger CO22--

emissions from oxidizing peat soil than can emissions from oxidizing peat soil than can be saved by replacing fossil fuels.be saved by replacing fossil fuels.

Paludiculture

…mais on destroyed peatland for biogas…

Germany

…although biofuels from drained peatland produce 3 – 9 times more CO2 than burning coal…

Paludiculture is agriculture on wet/rewetted peatlands

Roswarowo, Poland

Paludiculture is an innovative alternative to conventional drainage-based peatland agri- and silviculture

Ideally the peatlands should be so wet that peat is conserved and peat accumulation is re-installed.

Paludiculture uses that part of net primary production that is not necessary for peat formation (80-90% of NPP).

Paludiculture

In the temperate, subtropical and tropical In the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones, peat is generally formed by roots and zones, peat is generally formed by roots and rhizomes.rhizomes.

Aboveground parts can be harvested Aboveground parts can be harvested without harming peat formation. without harming peat formation.

Paludiculture

Biomass from wet peatlands in temperate Europe.

Q* = quality demand : ++ = high. + = medium, 0 = low).

Paludicultures on rewetted drained peatlands Paludicultures on rewetted drained peatlands contribute to climate change mitigation in contribute to climate change mitigation in two ways:two ways:

by reducing GHG emissions from drained by reducing GHG emissions from drained peatland soilspeatland soils

by replacing fossil resources by renewable by replacing fossil resources by renewable biomass alternatives.biomass alternatives.

Paludiculture

Rewetting results in a GHG emission reduction Rewetting results in a GHG emission reduction of 15 t COof 15 t CO22-eq∙ha-eq∙ha-1-1∙a∙a-1-1. .

The reed of 1 hectare can replace fossil fuels in The reed of 1 hectare can replace fossil fuels in a cogeneration plant that would otherwise emit a cogeneration plant that would otherwise emit 15 t CO15 t CO22. .

Emissions from handling amount to 2 t COEmissions from handling amount to 2 t CO22-eq -eq

haha-1-1.. Using reed from paludiculture would thus avoid Using reed from paludiculture would thus avoid

emissions of almost 30 t COemissions of almost 30 t CO22-eq∙ha-eq∙ha-1-1∙a∙a-1-1

Example: common reed

Planting reed on drained peatland before rewetting…

Reed cultivation on rewetted fens

Reed cultivation: Biomass ánd peat accumulation

Roof reed: quality product

Reed (Phragmites australis)

Productivity: 3 – 25 t DM/ha*a

Harvest cycle: 1 - 2 yr

Peat accumulation: ++/0

Alder cultivation on rewetted fens

Alder cultivation: biomass ánd peat accumulation

Alder (Alnus glutinosa)

Productivity: 3 – 10 t DM/ha*a

Harvest cycle: 60-70 yr

Peat accumulation: +/0

Harvesting of wet peatland biomasse in Poland

Briquetting of peatlandbiomasse in Poland

Nov 2004

Mai 2004

Aug 2006

Aug 2005

Peatmoss cultivation as peat alternative in horticulture

Peatmoss farming: avoids up to 50 ton CO2 ha-1 a-1: 20 by rewetting drained bogland + 25 by replacing fossil

peat + 5 by avoiding international transport

Kalimantan: Jelutung on rewetted peat swamp

Kalimantan

…perspectives for purun…

Most paludicultures can compete with normal drainage based agriculture.

Substantial market distortion because of agricultural subventions (EU: ‘paludiculture is no agriculture’).

Paludicultures do not compete with food production.

Paludiculture is a cheap and effective way to reduce emissions

Paludiculture

Paludiculture = paludi-future!!