The conservation of peatlandsa win-win opportunity for fighting climatechange, protecting water and maintaining
biodiversity
Dr. Matthias Drösler
Technische Universität MünchenFreising – Germany
[email protected]+49 8161 713715
Brussels23.09.2010
Drösler - TUM
structure
Drösler - TUM
1. Introduction: peatlands and climate2. Assessment of GHG-exchange of European peatlands3. In-depth study: GHG-exchange of German peatlands4. Synergies with other conservation goals: water and
biodiversity5. Conclusions and outlook
outline
wetland
fen(minero-trophic)
bog(ombro-trophic)
usednaturalused
mire
marshnon-peatformingmostly salt-water
influencedswamp
non-peatformingfresh-water
…..
peatland
Peatland definition
up to 550 PgC in peatlands (Parish et al. 2008)
ca. 30 % soil organic carbonca. 3 % land surface
(Lappalainen 1996)
Drösler - TUM
Peatland distribution worldwide
• Carbon in ecosystems
• Peatlandimportance
(Parish et al. 2008)
Peatlanddistribution in Europe
Montanarella et al. (2006)
Small scale variability of peat-depth
Drösler - TUM
for the to day climate-effect of peatlands the C-pool is less importantthan the exchange of climatic relevant trace gases
pool dimension vs. pool change rate makes stock change monitoring uncertain
CO2-uptakeGPP
CH4- N2O-emission
CO2-balanceNEE
CO2-emissionRespiration
Drösler - TUM
GHG-exchange in peatlands
Aerobic
Anaerobic
Production
Water table
Capillaryfringe
ConsumptionSoil surface
CO2N2OCH4
Relative gas fluxes – different scales per gas!
Soil profile
Processes of GHG-exchange in peatlands
Greenhouse gases in peatlandsCO2N2OCH4
Relative gas fluxes – different scales per gas!
Water table
Drainedpeatland
SourceSink
Water table
Naturalpeatland
Processes of GHG-exchange in peatlands
measurement techniques for GHGmeasurement techniques for GHG--exchange exchange of of COCO22, CH, CH44 and Nand N22OO
Eddy-Covariance automatic chambers manual chambers1 ha continuously 1 m2 continuously 1 m2 episodic
Net Ecosystem Exchange CO2-C (NEE)
CH4-C balanceC- exportC- import
Carbon-balance
CH4-C balance x GWPN2O-N balance x GWP
Climaticrelevance
GWP: CO2=1, CH4=21, N2O=310
plus plus
Nature conservation
Climate protectio
n
outline
Drösler - TUM
1. Introduction: peatlands and climate2. Assessment of GHG-exchange of European peatlands3. In-depth study: GHG-exchange of German peatlands4. Synergies with other conservation goals: water and
biodiversity5. Conclusions and outlook
Peatland use
EU-27 Peatland Area
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Bogs Fens
Area
[M h
a]
DegradedCropGrassForestMire
Adapted from Joosten & Clarke 2002
Median EFs for temperate peatlands
-10-505
1015202530354045
MireDrai
ned f
orest
Grassla
ndCrop
land
Degrad
edRes
tored
bog
Restor
ed fe
nt C
O2-
equi
v. h
a-1 a
-1
CO2 CH4 N2O
Freibauer, Drösler et al. in prep.
European peatlands: GHG budget
GHG Budget
-10000
-5000
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
Mire Forest Grass Crop Degraded
Gg
C-e
quiv
alen
ts a
-1
Fen BogSource
Sink
Net source: 31,800 Gg C-equ. a-1
Freibauer, Drösler et al. in prep.
N2O
MireForestGrassCropDegraded
CH4
MireForestGrassCropDegraded
C uptake
NEP
MireForestGrassCropDegraded
C uptake
GHG emissions from peatlands in EU-27
C-equivalents
MireForestGrassCropDegraded
C uptake
Area
MireForestGrassCropDegraded
84 TgCO2-eq a-1
11.3 TgCO2-eq a-1
21.5 TgCO2-eq a-1
117 TgCO2-eq a-1
Freibauer, Drösler et al. in prep.
-1000
100200300400500600700800900
Finlan
dSwed
enNorw
ayBela
rus
United
King
dom
German
yPola
ndIre
land
Estonia
1000
km
2
UnknownPeat cut CroplandGrasslandForestryMires
GHG emissionsfrom peatlands
by country
(emission factors:Drösler et al. 2008)
-5000
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
Finlan
dSwed
enNorw
ayBela
rus
United
King
dom
German
yPola
ndIre
land
Estonia
GH
G b
alan
ce [G
g C
O 2-e
qu]
UnknownPeat cut CroplandGrasslandForestryMires
Freibauer, Drösler et al. in prep.
outline
Drösler - TUM
1. Introduction: peatlands and climate2. Assessment of GHG-exchange of European peatlands3. In-depth study: GHG-exchange of German peatlands4. Synergies with other conservation goals: water and
biodiversity5. Conclusions and outlook
peatland synthesis: detailed objectives
1
3
24
5
9
7
6
8
10
11
German input: Nationally funded sites
Blue sites BMBF-project2006-2010
Blue and purple sites vTI-project2009-2012
Research partners – BMBF project
Vegetationsökologie
TUM-VÖK Matthias Drösler, Wolfram Adelmann, Lindsey Bergmann, Christoph Förster,Julia Hermann
IÖW Ulrich Petschow, Alexandra Dehnhardt, Stefan Görlitz, Philipp Schägner
LBEG Heinrich Höper, Colja Beyer, Horst Liebersbach
MPI-BGC Annette Freibauer, Catharina DonMaria-Hahn Schöfl, Angelika Thuille
TUM-WDL Jochen Kantelhardt, Lena Schaller, Rico Hübner
ZALF-BLF Michael Sommer, Marc Wehrhahn, Franz Zinnecker
ZALF-LSD Jürgen Augustin, Madlen Pohl, Elisabeth Boraz, Michael Giebels, Merten Minke, Maarten Schmid,
peatland study: representative selection of sites
Climatic water balance
GHG-balance - German bogs
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Acker
Grünlan
d inte
nsiv
/ mitte
l
Grünlan
d exte
nsiv
trock
en
Grünlan
d exte
nsiv
nass
Hochm
oor tr
ocke
n
Naturna
h/Ren
aturie
rtÜbe
rstau
t CO
2-Ä
qu. h
a-1 a
-1Alle TGs Hochmoor
Fehlerbalken: Minimum - Maximum der Messungen
All sites Peat bogs
Farm
land
Gra
ssla
nd in
tens
ive
Gra
ssla
nd
exte
nsiv
e dr
y
Gra
ssla
nd
exte
nsiv
e w
et
Hea
th
Nat
ural
/ res
tore
d
Floo
ded
Drösler et al. in prep.
-75 -50 -25 0 25 50WT-mean total [cm]
-250
0
250
500
750
1000G
WP
-bal
ance
GH
Gs
[g C
O2-
C-e
qu. m
-2
-
2
GH
G-b
alan
ce[g
CO
2-C
Äqu
iv. m
-2a-
1] r2=0.6
p=<0.01
Mean WT: dominating but not single explainingfactor
GHG-balance vs. WT - German bogs
FarmlandGL int. /meanGL ext. dryGL ext. wetheath/unused dryrestored / naturalflooded
Drösler et al. in prep.
-10
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Acker
Grünlan
d inte
nsiv
/ mitte
l
Grünlan
d exte
nsiv
trock
en
Grünlan
d exte
nsiv
nass
Hochm
oor tr
ocke
n
Naturna
h/Ren
aturie
rtÜbe
rstau
t CO
2-Ä
qu. h
a-1 a
-1
Alle TGs NiedermoorFehlerbalken: Minimum - Maximum der Messungen
GHG-balance - German fens
Farm
land
Gra
ssla
nd in
tens
ive
Gra
ssla
nd
exte
nsiv
e dr
y
Gra
ssla
nd
exte
nsiv
e w
et
Hea
th
Nat
ural
/ res
tore
d
Floo
ded
All sites
fens
Drösler et al. in prep.
-100
1020304050607080
Acker
Grünland intensiv
/ mitte
l
Grünland exte
nsiv tro
cken
Grünland exte
nsiv nass
Hochmoor
trock
enNatu
rnah/Renaturie
rt
Überst
au
t CO
2-Ä
qu. h
a-1 a
-1
THGs CH4 N2OFehlerbalken: Minimum - Maximum der Messungen
GHG-balances - German fens
Farm
land
Gra
ssla
nd in
tens
ive
Gra
ssla
nd
exte
nsiv
e dr
y
Gra
ssla
nd
exte
nsiv
e w
et
Hea
th
Nat
ural
/ res
tore
d
Floo
ded
Drösler et al. in prep.
-150 -100 -50 0 50WT-mean total [cm]
-500
0
500
1000
1500
2000G
WP
-bal
ance
GH
Gs
[g C
O2-
C-e
qu. m
-2
Wasserstand –Jahresmittel [cm]
r2=0.52p=<0.01
GH
G-b
alan
ce[g
CO
2-C
Äqu
iv. m
-2a-
1]
Mean WT: dominating but not single explainingfactor
GHG-balance vs. WT - German fens
FarmlandGL int. /meanGL ext. dryGL ext. wetheath/unused dryrestored / naturalflooded
Drösler et al. in prep.
02.5
57.5
10
C-export:t_C ha-1a-1
-150-100-500
WT-mean total [cm]
-10
-100
010
1020
2030
3040
4050
5060
60E
F-G
WP
:t_C
O2-
aequ
iv h
a-1a
-1
EF-
GW
P:t_
CO
2-ae
quiv
ha-
1a-1
GHG vs. WT vs. land use intensitybogs and fens
C-Exp
ort [t
C ha-1 a-
1 ]
r2=0.72p=<0.01
Clim
ate
prot
ectio
n
Rising water tablerestorationLand use change
Extensificatio
n
Drösler et al. in prep.
extensivication land usechange
farmlandintensive grasslandextensive
Management level
restoration
GWP-balance [g CO2-C-equ. m-2 a-1]
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
11 9 2 8 1 (07) 7 4 5 3 6 1 (08) 13_1 13_2
Freisinger Moos 2007*
Extensification ca. 15 t CO2 equiv./ha*a
Restorationca. 30 t CO2equiv./ha*a
Farmland to Grassland10 t CO2 equiv./ha*a
1. extensive grasing*2. inten. meadow3. ext. meadow4. ext. meaow with sedges5. tall sedges6. former extensive meadow
7 former extensive meadow8 inten. meadow9 inten. meadow11 farmland13.1 small sedges (restored) MW 22 cm13.2 small sedges (restored) MW 14 cm
GHG-reduction potential –fen area example FS-Moos
C-pool in German peatlands 1200 – 2400 Mio t
Emissions from German peatlands up to 45 Mio t CO2 equiv/a (NIR2010)
peatlands are among the biggest single sources4.5 % of the overall climate impact of Germany
30 % ot the emissions of the whole farming sectorfrom peatland agriculture unless just 8 % of farmland on organic soils
big emission-reduction potentials at small land proportion
GHG-Balances German peatlands
Drösler - TUM
1. Introduction: peatlands and climate2. Assessment of GHG-exchange of European peatlands3. In-depth study: GHG-exchange of German peatlands4. Synergies with other conservation goals: water and
biodiversity5. Conclusions and outlook
outline
(Colias palaeno)
species conservation vs. climate protecion?
-75 -50 -25 0 25 50WT-mean total [cm]
-250
0
250
500
750
1000
GW
P-b
alan
ce G
HG
s [g
CO
2-C
-equ
. m-2
2
habitat
methane-source
species conservation vs. climate protecion?
-75 -50 -25 0 25 50WT-mean total [cm]
-250
0
250
500
750
1000
GW
P-b
alan
ce G
HG
s [g
CO
2-C
-equ
. m-2
2
monitoring: bog vegetation as indicator for restoration succes
restored
drained
1996 1999 2003
1996 1999 2003
Vegetation dynamic after restoration
Mooswachstumsmessflächen und Messmethode
Peat moss development after restoration
Peat moss growth rates
peat moss growth 2004-2008 : site1r^2=0.9426922; a=-2.91363051; b=0.009204884
250 750 1250 1750julian day continous
-5
0
5
10
15
heig
ht re
lativ
e to
sta
rt [c
m]
peat moss growth 2004-2008 : site 2y=a+bx^2; r^2=0.96003833, a=-0.23329591, b= 3.39448e-06
250 750 1250 1750julian day continuous
-5
0
5
10
15
heig
ht re
lativ
e to
sta
rt [c
m]
growth rate3.4 cm/year
growth rate2.7 cm/year
-75 -50 -25 0 25 50WT-mean total [cm]
-250
0
250
500
750
1000
GW
P-b
alan
ce G
HG
s [g
CO
2-C
-equ
. m-2
2
Peat moss development after restoration
Drösler in prep.
Rank 3 Eqn 1 y=a+bxr^2=0.64809873 DF Adj r^2=0.57771848 FitStdErr=1.4280136 Fstat=20.258768
a=9.4472667 b=-0.013894889
0 100 200 300 400 500GWP-Balance [g C-eq. m-2 a-1]
0
2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5S
peci
es n
umbe
r
plant biodiversity vs. GHG-balance
bog-vegetationr2=0.65p<0.05
Drösler in prep.
Rank 3 Eqn 1 y=a+bxr^2=0.64809873 DF Adj r^2=0.57771848 FitStdErr=1.4280136 Fstat=20.258768
a=9.4472667 b=-0.013894889
0 100 200 300 400 500GWP-Balance [g C-eq. m-2 a-1]
0
2.5
5
7.5
10
12.5S
peci
es n
umbe
r r2=0.65p<0.05
plant biodiversity vs. GHG-balance
bog-vegetationfen-vegetationr2=0.69p<0.05
-50-40-30-20
-100
10
-50-40-30-20-10
010
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 43 46 49 52
-50-40-30-20-10
010
degraded: former peat cut area
restored Sphagnum-lawn
natural hummock-hollow complex
Water table dynamics at bog sites
Drösler 2005
-80
-60
-40
-20
0
20
40
60
0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225
DOY
Tair
[°C
], R
ain
[mm
], W
T [c
m],
TA200_maxRAIN_mmWT_13.1WT_13.2
RECO_TG5 _ site 13.1_2007
05
101520253035
1 907 1813 2719 3625 4531 5437 6343 7249 8155 9061 9967
Year 2007 (0.5h steps)
CO
2-C
µm
ol m
-2 s
-1
Adaptation to climate variablity
Freisinger Moos
droughtApril 2007
outline
Drösler - TUM
1. Introduction: peatlands and climate2. Assessment of GHG-exchange of European peatlands3. In-depth study: GHG-exchange of German peatlands4. Synergies with other conservation goals: water and
biodiversity5. Conclusions and outlook
PeatlandPeatlandconservationconservation
restorationrestoration
Biodiversity
ClimateprotectionWater regulation
Synergies between BiodiversityBiodiversity--,WaterWater-- and ClimateClimate protectionprotection
Development of sitesite--specificspecificPeatlandPeatland managementmanagement strategiesstrategies(land-use, land-tenure, hydrological setting,costs and goals)
ChallengesChallenges and and potentialspotentials
ApplicationApplication of of newnew peatlandpeatland managementmanagement strategiesstrategies(stakeholder participation, permanence, commitment, costs)
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700
Fläche [ha]
Geb
iets
emis
sion
en [t
CO2 /
Jahr
]
Farmland to grassland
Extensification of grassland Water rising
Agricultural use of wetmeadows
optimalrestoration
Water risingNature conservation
Reduction of area emissions FS-Moos
reduction: 12.000 t CO2-equiv a-1
CO2-abatement costs: 9 – 64 Euro /t CO2
Wiss. Beirat Agrarpolitik beim BMELV, 2007
Climate mitigation via peatland conservation
Mitigation potential via peatland restoration
Estimated emission reductionsCa. 30 t CO2 equiv. / ha a in fensCa. 15 t CO2 equiv. / ha a in bogs
Abatement costs
PeatlandPeatlandconservationconservation
restorationrestoration
Biodiversity
ClimateprotectionWater regulation
Integration of Integration of ecologicalecological servicesservices ((climateclimate, , biodiversitybiodiversity, , waterwater) ) in in agriculturalagricultural fundingfunding schemesschemes withinwithin CAP CAP paypay land land usersusers on on organicorganic soilssoils forfor producingproducing ecologicalecological servicesservices
ButBut: : MonitoringMonitoring & & modellingmodelling of of thethe effectseffects neededneeded! !
conclusionsconclusions
Synergies between BiodiversityBiodiversity--,WaterWater-- and ClimateClimate protectionprotection
Development of sitesite--specificspecificPeatlandPeatland managementmanagement strategiesstrategies(land-use, land-tenure, hydrological setting,costs and goals)
ApplicationApplication of of newnew peatlandpeatland managementmanagement strategiesstrategies(stakeholder participation, permanence, commitment, costs)
EU-FP7 Project (2010-2013)GHG-Europe (coord. vTI)
Greenhouse gas management in European land use systems
activity 2.1: peatland synthesis (TUM-VÖK)
Annette Freibauer vTI-AK Seminar 27.04
Thanks for your attention
Thanks to all contributers in the running GHG-exchange projects
Thanks to the funding institutions: EU, BMBF, vTI, LfU, BStMWK, BFN