Decision support for multi-functional peatland use

摘要

Human land use historically aimed at optimizing the production function against other functions. This focus turned the majority of peatlands in Western and Eastern Europe into agricultural fields by implementing large-scale drainage programmes that require frequent input into water management and regulation for maintaining site conditions. Traditionally these peatlands are used mainly as grassland (Figure 1), where the land use intensity is determined by the drainage depth, and in some cases as arable land. Several studies have shown that this land use type is associated with several environmental problems ranging from loss of biodiversity, increased nutrient leaching and greenhouse gas emissions or loss of water retention area. Additionally this land use type causes socioeconomic problems to society visible in increasing costs for water management.