Canada
Can-Peat: Canada's Peatlands as Nature-based Climate Solutions
Dr. Maria Strack with Jullian Souze Sone, Melanie Bird, and Katie Hettinga
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo
Dr. Strack will provide an overview of the Can-Peat project, followed by presentations from three HQPs, each discussing their specific research aligned with Can-Peat.
HQP 1: Jullian Souze Sone
A Systematic Review of Integrated Decision Support Systems for Peatland Conservation and Restoration
The willingness to implement nature-based climate solutions increasingly depends on decision-making informed by comparing the costs and benefits of management actions. Combining monetary metrics for peatland ecosystem services and biodiversity is crucial for understanding human-peatland interactions and trade-offs. These costs and benefits vary by stakeholder and context, with high uncertainty due to environmental, economic, and regulatory factors. This study aims to assess how decision support systems (DSS) inform stakeholders in managing peatlands globally and how information impacts ecosystem services. We are conducting a systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines, with the potential to highlight best practices, advantages, limitations of DSS, and key knowledge gaps for improving future decision tools.
HQP 2: Melanie Bird
Determining the Potential for Restoration/Reclamation to Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Disturbed Canadian Peatlands
This project under the Can-Peat umbrella is to improve accessibility to and synthesize published and unpublished historical greenhouse gas (GHG) data collected from experimentally reclaimed and restored peatland sites across Canada. Many restoration approaches have been trailed in various peatland settings and disturbance types nationwide over the last 30 years, but there is still uncertainty in their effectiveness and timing to return carbon sink function. Therefore, a systematic compilation of GHG exchange post restoration activities will improve our understanding of restoration/reclamation in mitigating disturbed peatland GHG emissions. These results will contribute directly to Can-Peat’s goal of reducing uncertainty in GHG emission reductions from peatland through land management actions.
HQP 3: Katie Hettinga
Winter contributions to the annual net carbon dioxide budget in Canadian peatlands
Peatlands store up to one-third of the global organic carbon (C) and serve as a vital carbon sink, with most located in the boreal region of the northern hemisphere, which is highly vulnerable to climate warming. Climate models predict continued warming throughout the 21st century, especially during the non-growing season (NGS). Current methods for measuring net ecosystem exchange (NEE) in peatlands face limitations due to scale, remoteness, harsh winter conditions, and power availability. To address this, we evaluated the use of a remotely sensed dataset, the Soil Moisture Active Passive Level 4 Global Daily EASE-Grid Carbon NEE dataset (SMAP-NEE), over nine years (2015–2023) across five Canadian peatlands. We compared SMAP-NEE with eddy covariance NEE (EC-NEE) data, finding that SMAP-NEE indicated a stronger growing season (GS) sink and a weaker NGS source. Based on these differences, we developed a Corrected-SMAP-NEE dataset, which significantly reduced discrepancies with EC-NEE and provided refined estimates of seasonal and annual CO2 budgets. Our analysis showed that NGS CO2 emissions represent 33%–256% of GS uptake, reducing the annual sink strength when included, underscoring the need to account for NGS emissions in northern peatland carbon budgets.
This webinar is free of charge and log in information will be provided on your ticket via email following registration. If you are unable to attend this day, please note the webinars are recorded and will be available for viewing shortly after the webinar concludes at https://vimeo.com/wetlandknowledgeexchange
The Wetland Knowledge Exchange is the official voice of the Canadian and Conservation Land Management Knowledge Network's Wetland Knowledge Portal (WKP). The Wetland Knowledge Exchange aims to amplify the voice of the WKP to help increase information sharing and foster collaboration amongst diverse stakeholders interested in wetland management, conservation and reclamation. Learn about new Canadian wetland research, news, and events by subscribing to our monthly newsletter or tuning in to our monthly webinar series (or view recordings of past webinars). For more information, visit our website or contact us at wbf_bmp@ducks.ca.