Conservation and restoration of peatlands and wetlands in taiga and tundra

The technologies and methods to protect and restore wetlands and peatlands already exist, and the IPCC AR6 WG3 assigns it a TRL of 8/9.

In its spatial extent, this measure is necessarily limited by definition, and could be even smaller due to the effects of climate change like sea level rise and temperature increases, which limit previously occupied territory. However, Roe et al (2019) show that the carbon mitigation potential of protection and restoration is the highest of all suggested natural land based measures.

The UNEP report on peatlands (2021) reads that 'Peatlands can be part of an effective climate change mitigation strategy’, and that they ‘could help countries meet Nationally Determined Contributions to global climate action.' Goldstein et al (2020) consider Peatlands and marshes to be 'irrecoverable carbon' ecosystems that would not be able to recover 'on timescales relevant to avoiding dangerous climate impacts', and these measures are therefore most urgent to prevent near future effects.

Boreal and subarctic peatlands make up 78% of total global peatlands. These areas remain largely intact, and are less vulnerable than peatland areas in other areas such as the tropics (Goldstein et al. 2020). Protection and preservation would therefore be especially important (Strack et al, 2022). However, the IPCC AR6 WG3 notes that restoration would still be important, as it would bring significant ecological and socio-economical side-benefits. The report furthermore clarifies that global warming is the biggest threat to northern peatlands as almost half of all stocks north of 23° latitude cover permafrost, the thaw of which also endangers the peatlands on top. However, large uncertainties about the future development of this process makes it difficult to estimate the magnitude of potential emissions.

The UNEP report on peatlands (2021) writes that 'Peatlands can be part of an effective [global] climate change mitigation strategy’. IPCC ar6 wg3 states even clearer that 'Restoration and rewetting of almost all drained peatlands is needed by 2050 to meet 1.5°C–2°C pathways (2022, p785).///There are however significant differences in carbon mitigation potential estimates, for example around increased releases of methane and permanence in light of increased droughts and fires (Günther et al. 2020). More research is therefore direly needed (Monteverde et al, 2022).///Strack et al (2022) note that their literature review showed that all peatland solutions could have a global potential of 1.1 to 2.6 Gt CO2e year−1 in 2030. Leifeld and Menichetti (2018) find that peatland restoration could globally reduce the emissions of 1.91 Gt CO2-eq, and note that this would require far less land nitrogen than an equivalent effect from an increase in carbon sequestration in agricultural soils (See carbon capture in soils). The IPCC Ar6 wg3 provides a slightly lower median estimate for restoration of 0.79 GtCO2-eq yr–1, and gives medium confidence that Peatland protection can mitigate 0.86 GtCO2-eq yr–1.

The IPCC Ar6 wg3 notes that there is insufficient data on the cost of peatland restoration to give an accurate estimate. However, the UNEP (2021) report gives a rather extensive cost-benefit analysis. The cost of peatland restoration can be very high, as a global effort to rewet ‘40% of drained peatlands by 2050’ would mean a rise in investments from ‘US$19 billion annually to US$31 billion by 2030, to US$39 billion by 2040, and then in excess of US$46 billion by 2050.’ Yet, they also note that peatlands provide numerous benefits, including economical, and that the price for restoration will only rise in the future.

There will be significant difference between costs of individual projects, with Roe et al. (2021) noting that 0.2 GtCO2-eq yr–1 could already be mitigated for up to USD100 tCO2 –1.

IPCC AR6 WG3 note that there is a risk of reversal of peatland restoration under increased warming and forest fires. However, there is general agreement that protection and restoration of wetlands and peatlands will provide many ecological benefits (IPCC AR6 wg3, 2022).

CAFF (2021) highlights the specific importance of wetlands for indigenous peoples in Northern regions. Apart from positive ecological and environmental effects, protection and restoration of wetlands and peatlands can, according to the IPCC AR6 wg3 report, lead to improvements in local economies and likelihood. Such measures could, however, be in competition with other means of subsistence. Martino et al (2022) also notes that there could be different preferences in extent of restoration strategies, with some sections of society preferring “less wild” states of natural restoration.

As noted above, it has to be made sure that protected or restored ecosystems are viable in light of changes brought about by climate change.

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UNEP (2021) and Monteverde et al (2022) both note that there needs to be more coordination between government levels and international governance initiatives when it comes to peatland preservation. Seifollahi-Aghmiuni et al (2019) literature review equally highlights key gaps in wetland management plans. Apart from highlighting similar policy inconsistencies in wetland management efforts, CAFF (2021) specifically also urges for improvements in ecosystem service rapportation to international organizations, as this could encourage protection and restoration projects.

There is increasing interest in the protection and restoration of wetlands and peatlands. Apart from numerous researcher projects at various institutes, the Arctic Council’s Resilience and Management of Arctic Wetlands project (sei.org/projects-and-tools/projects/resilience-and-management-of-arctic-wetlands/ and https://caff.is/wetland), in collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute, is the main example in the Arctic and Northern regions.