Plant establishment in restored peatlands: 10-years monitoring of sites restored from 1995 to 2003

Authors:
Stéphanie Boudreau and Line Rochefort

Book:
After Wise Use – The Future of Peatlands, Proceedings of the 13th International Peat Congress: Peatland After-Use

Keywords:
cutover-bog, monitoring, plant-establishment, restoration, sphagnum-mosses

Documentfile:
Boudreau et al. 2008: Plant establishment in restored peatlands

Summary:

Chemin-du-Lac peatland (Québec, Canada) is a good example where restoration has been implemented by a peat company in their after-use management practices. As areas were progressively closed to peat harvesting, restoration has been done on 1.2 to 12 hectares (ha) per year, from 1995 to 2003. Plant establishment was monitored every year or second years from 1998 to 2007. Plant establishment was rapid and a complete moss carpet was rehabilitated within 4 to 7 years following restoration. Most species colonizing the restored zones were typical peatland species.