Peatland Restoration in Canada O Olgiati GRET 2005

Peatland Restoration in Canada O. Olgiati, GRET 2005 © GRET, December 2008

Peatland Restoration Goal in Canada To restore the most unique characteristic that defines peatland ecosystem: Capacity to accumulate peat through time Defined from consensus after several workshops with stakeholders involved in peatland management in Canada GRET 2006

After-use of Peatlands The Challenge of the Peat Industry ? ? G. Ayotte Studies on factors impeding spontaneous regeneration: www. gret-perg. ulaval. ca L. Rochefort

Restoration of a moss layer l Research focused at first on the biology of Sphagnum mosses l l Key plants for the ecosystem High regeneration capacity GRET 1994 GRET 1998 GRET 2003 GRET 1994

Industrial Research Chair in Peatland Management Ecological restoration of peatlands l Other reclamation options l Sphagnum farming l GRET 1999 GRET 2004 M. Bellemare 2006 GRET 2006 http: //www. gret-perg. ulaval. ca/

Canadian Restoration Techniques 2 - Collecting Sphagnum mosses from natural peatlands GRET 2005 1 - Preparing the field GRET 1999 Peatland Restoration Guide http: //www. peatmoss. com/pm-restguide. php

Canadian Restoration Techniques 4 - Protecting with straw mulch GRET 1997 3 - Spreading Sphagnum fragments Kurt Johnson 2005 Peatland Restoration Guide http: //www. peatmoss. com/pm-restguide. php

Canadian Restoration Techniques 6 - Blocking ditches to raise water table GRET 2000 5 - Fertilizing GRET 2001 Peatland Restoration Guide http: //www. peatmoss. com/pm-restguide. php

Restoration of Peatland Ecosystem: the case of Bois-des-Bel GRET 2002 Non-restored area GRET 2006 GRET 2002 2000 GRET 2000

Bois-des-Bel 2005 GRET 2006 GRET 2005

Bois-des-Bel 2006 Non-restored Restored GRET 2006

Restoring Plant Communities O. Olgiati, GRET 2005

Restoring Plant Communities 50 Cover (%) 40 Total cover (5 yrs): 80% Sphagnum Other mosses Vascular plant 30 20 10 0 Non. Restored 0 1 2 3 4 5

Restoring Biodiversity and other functions N. Mosnier, 2005 GRET 2005 V. Bérubé A. Desrochers GRET 2007

Impact on Peat Industry Reclamation Policy l Before harvesting L. Rochefort l During Harvesting M. Poulin l After harvesting ØThe policy promotes restoration as a primary goal, when possible GRET 2003

Impact on Peat Industry – Provincial Peat Mining Policy l The New Brunswick example Provincial Peat Mining Policy “To ensure that peatlands used for peat extraction are, after cessation of activities, restored to natural wetland habitats. ” http: //www. gnb. ca/0078/minerals/PDF/Peat_Mining_Policy-e. pdf

Application of Wise Use Principles l Wise use of peatlands adopted by: l International Peat Society (IPS) l International Mire Conservation Group (IMCG) l Promoted by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands l Important element of wise use is wise after-use l Online DVD at www. peatsociety. org “The use of peatlands for which reasonable people either now or in the future will not attribute blame. ”

Peatland Restoration in Canada Thank you! Merci! C. Breathnach, GRET 2005 © GRET, December 2008