Transcript Moorleiche im Tank - Wetlands International

Economic opportunities of wetland
rewetting and paludiculture
Hans Joosten
Uni-Greifswald: Peatland Studies & Palaeo-ecology
International Mire Conservation Group
Belarus UNFCCC delegation
Reasons for rewetting
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For the climate
Against fire..
Because of pumping costs
For social reasons…
Fascist demonstration in Amklam 31 July 2010…
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Rewetting of peatland is good for the
climate
More climatic profit can even be made by
using rewetted peatlands for biomass
cultivation
To replace fossil fuels and fossil raw
materials
500,000 km2 of degraded peatlands
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PALUDICULTURE !!
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Paludiculture
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Drainage of peatlands for conventional
agriculture, forestry and peat extraction is
responsible for 2 Gtons of CO2 emissions.
Drained peatlands are increasingly used for
the production of biofuels.
This generally leads to (much) larger CO2emissions from oxidizing peat soil than can
be saved by replacing fossil fuels.
Germany
…mais on destroyed peatland for biogas…
…although biofuels from drained peatland produce 3 – 9
times more CO2 than burning coal…
Roswarowo, Poland
Paludiculture is agriculture on wet/rewetted peatlands
Paludiculture
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Paludiculture is an innovative alternative to
conventional drainage-based peatland agriand silviculture
Ideally the peatlands should be so wet that
peat is conserved and peat accumulation is
re-installed.
Paludiculture uses that part of net primary
production that is not necessary for peat
formation (80-90% of NPP).
Paludiculture
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In the temperate, subtropical and tropical
zones, peat is generally formed by roots and
rhizomes.
Aboveground parts can be harvested
without harming peat formation.
Biomass from wet peatlands in temperate Europe.
Q* = quality demand : ++ = high. + = medium, 0 = low).
Paludiculture
Paludicultures on rewetted drained peatlands
contribute to climate change mitigation in
two ways:
 by reducing GHG emissions from drained
peatland soils
 by replacing fossil resources by renewable
biomass alternatives.
Example: common reed
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Rewetting results in a GHG emission
reduction of 15 t CO2-eq∙ha-1∙a-1.
The reed of 1 hectare can replace fossil fuels
in a cogeneration plant that would otherwise
emit 15 t CO2.
Emissions from handling amount to 2 t CO2eq ha-1.
Using reed from paludiculture would thus
avoid emissions of almost 30 t CO2-eq∙ha-1∙a-1
Planting reed on drained peatland before rewetting…
Reed cultivation on rewetted fens
Reed cultivation: Biomass ánd peat accumulation
Roof reed: quality product
Reed (Phragmites australis)
Productivity: 3 – 25 t DM/ha*a
Harvest cycle: 1 - 2 yr
Peat accumulation: ++/0
Alder cultivation on rewetted fens
Alder cultivation: biomass ánd peat accumulation
Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Productivity: 3 – 10 t DM/ha*a
Harvest cycle: 60-70 yr
Peat accumulation: +/0
Harvesting of wet peatland biomasse in Poland
Briquetting of peatland
biomasse in Poland
Nov 2004
Mai 2004
Aug 2005
Peatmoss cultivation as peat alternative in horticulture
Aug 2006
Peatmoss farming: avoids up to 50 ton CO2 ha-1 a-1:
20 by rewetting drained bogland + 25 by replacing fossil
peat + 5 by avoiding international transport
Kalimantan: Jelutung on rewetted peat swamp
Kalimantan
…perspectives for purun…
Paludiculture
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Most paludicultures can compete with
normal drainage based agriculture.
Substantial market distortion because of
agricultural subventions (EU: ‘paludiculture
is no agriculture’).
Paludicultures do not compete with food
production.
Paludiculture is a cheap and effective way
to reduce emissions
Paludiculture = paludi-future!!