Restoration as a tool to improve the quality of drained spruce mires in conservation areas

Authors:
Dagmar Balla and Sebastian Maassen

Book:
After Wise Use – The Future of Peatlands, Proceedings of the 13th International Peat Congress: Pristine Mire Landscapes

Venue:
Tullamore, Ireland

Keywords:
enzyme-activities, hydrodynamics, peatland-river-sediment, phosphorus-release, pore-water

Documentfile:
Aapala 2008: Restoration as a tool to improve the quality of drained spruce mires

Summary:

Boreal spruce mires have high biodiversity value, but as they are naturally forested they have been intensively drained for forestry purposes. Less than 20 % of them are still undrained in southern Finland. Also nature conservation areas include drained spruce mires, especially in southern Finland. Restoration has been highlighted as a tool to enhance the quality of habitats in conservation areas. Our case study includes two restored, one drained and three undrained spruce mire sites in two nature conservation areas in South-Finland. Sphagnum mosses responded quickly and positively to restoration measures.