Rewetting does not return drained fen peatlands to their old selves

J. Kreyling (), F. Tanneberger, F. Jansen, S. Linden, C. Aggenbach, V. Blüml, J. Couwenberg, Emsens W-J, H. Joosten, A. Klimkowska, W. Kotowski, L. Kozub, B. Lennartz, Y. Liczner, H. Liu, D. Michaelis, C. Oehmke, K. Parakenings, E. Pleyl, A. Poyda, S. Raabe, M. Röhl, K. Rücker, A. Schneider, J. Schrautzer, C. Schröder, F. Schug, E. Seeber, F. Thiel, S. Thiele, B. Tiemeyer, T. Timmermann, T. Urich, R. Diggelen, K. Vegelin, E. Verbruggen, M. Wilmking, N. Wrage-Mönnig, L. Wołejko, D. Zak and G. Jurasinski
Additional contact information
J. Kreyling: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
F. Tanneberger: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
F. Jansen: University of Rostock
S. Linden: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
C. Aggenbach: KWR Water Research Institute
V. Blüml: BMS-Umweltplanung in association with University of Bremen
J. Couwenberg: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
Emsens W-J: University of Antwerp
H. Joosten: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
A. Klimkowska: University of Antwerp
W. Kotowski: University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology
L. Kozub: University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology
B. Lennartz: University of Rostock
Y. Liczner: University of Antwerp
H. Liu: University of Rostock
D. Michaelis: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
C. Oehmke: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
K. Parakenings: Landkreis Vorpommern-Greifswald
E. Pleyl: Zentrum für Umwelt und Kultur Benediktbeuern e.V.
A. Poyda: Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel
S. Raabe: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
M. Röhl: Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Umwelt Nürtingen-Geislingen
K. Rücker: Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel
A. Schneider: Regional administration Havelland
J. Schrautzer: Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel
C. Schröder: Stiftung Umwelt und Naturschutz M-V
F. Schug: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
E. Seeber: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
F. Thiel: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
S. Thiele: Institut für Landschaftsökologie und Naturschutz GmbH
B. Tiemeyer: Thünen-Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture
T. Timmermann: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
T. Urich: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
R. Diggelen: University of Antwerp
K. Vegelin: BNL Vegelin; Groß Polzin
E. Verbruggen: University of Antwerp
M. Wilmking: University of Greifswald, partner in the Greifswald Mire Centre
N. Wrage-Mönnig: West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin
L. Wołejko: University of Rostock
D. Zak: Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries
G. Jurasinski: University of Rostock

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Peatlands have been drained for land use for a long time and on a large scale, turning them from carbon and nutrient sinks into respective sources, diminishing water regulation capacity, causing surface height loss and destroying biodiversity. Over the last decades, drained peatlands have been rewetted for biodiversity restoration and, as it strongly decreases greenhouse gas emissions, also for climate protection. We quantify restoration success by comparing 320 rewetted fen peatland sites to 243 near-natural peatland sites of similar origin across temperate Europe, all set into perspective by 10k additional European fen vegetation plots. Results imply that rewetting of drained fen peatlands induces the establishment of tall, graminoid wetland plants (helophytisation) and long-lasting differences to pre-drainage biodiversity (vegetation), ecosystem functioning (geochemistry, hydrology), and land cover characteristics (spectral temporal metrics). The Paris Agreement entails the rewetting of 500,000 km2 of drained peatlands worldwide until 2050-2070. A better understanding of the resulting locally novel ecosystems is required to improve planning and implementation of peatland rewetting and subsequent management.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25619-y

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