Authors:
Lars Lundin, Torbjörn Nilsson and Gina Lucci
Book:
After Wise Use – The Future of Peatlands, Proceedings of the 13th International Peat Congress: Peatland Forestry
Keywords:
buffer-area, element-leaching, forestry, mire, water-quality
Documentfile:
Lundin et al. 2008: Mires as buffer areas for high water quality in forest land
Summary:
Mires and wetlands exert crucial functions for aquatic ecosystems in forest landscapes. Forest land is extensive in the Nordic-Baltic region with forestry operations adding to element outflows exerting enhanced pressures on water courses. The importance of retention areas such as buffer zones attracts interests in water turnover and chemical element balances. Investigations on mires as protection areas were carried out with special attention on the Bälgsjön lake catchment. The conclusion regarding changed water quality related to forestry measures showed the importance of the mire mitigation for water quality providing results on fen functions as buffer area.