Restoring I afforested deep peat in Wales

摘要

Foresters understand that woodlands are not just about timber and recreation, but deliver many ecosystem services, such as water management, biodiversity gain, carbon storage and sequestration. It is through this, the "ecosystem services approach", that we can demonstrate the principles of Sustainable Natural Resource Management, to the people of Wales.So where does afforested deep peat and restoration to bog habitat fit in? Active bog systems provide carbon storage and sequestration, with the quantities of carbon stored below ground exceeding that which could be locked up in timber above ground. Conversely, degraded bog releases carbon to the atmosphere. Blanket bog, fen, flush and lowland raised bog are Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats. Restored peat provides hydrological benefits: with a functioning bog system in the upper catchment, river systems benefit from attenuation of flows, becoming less flashy in high rainfall events and sustaining base flows during dry periods. Degraded peat tends to be drying out, causing cracking and impairing the peat's capacity for water storage. Furthermore, artificial drainage within the peat can cause rapid run-off. Nutrient regulation and retention are also improved by the restoration of afforested deep peat.