Paludiculture – productive use of (re)wet(ted) peat soils in Bargerveen - Buffer Noord-Oost
About this good practice
Paludiculture is a sustainable alternative to drainage-based agriculture, intended to maintain carbon storage in peatlands. This differentiates paludiculture from agriculture like rice paddies, which involve draining, and therefore degrading wetlands.
In Europe peatlands have been assessed as the most degraded ecosystem type. Damaged peatlands are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for 5.6% of global human-caused CO2 annually, more than aviation and shipping combined. Peatland loss also means biodiversity loss, more floods and droughts, and degraded drinking water for local communities. As it is expected that clean drinking water will get scarcer in the future, and floodings more severe, the capacity for water purification, storage, and retention that peatlands provide will only become more valuable in the future. Vast areas of agricultural peatlands in Europe are used for intensive meat and dairy production. In addition, there is forestry and e.g. potato cultivation on drained peatlands. Drained peatlands emit large amounts of CO2, because of decomposition of the organic material that sequestered CO2 in the past. Stopping drainage and raising the water table reduces CO2 emissions. At the same time the emission of methane may increase. Methane emission may increase in the short term after rewetting, the reduction of net GHG emissions from peatlands can only be achieved if we rewet all drained peatlands as fast as possible (Günther et al., 2020).
Resources needed
The financial resources required to set up and to run paludiculture strongly depend on the situation in the landscape or hydrological system. The management (maintenance, harvest) of and the processing of the biomass will become more efficient on larger scale within the region.
Evidence of success
Rewetting of drained peatlands is the only way to reduce or stop GHG emission and soil subsidence and the transform to a more climate robust land use. Nature restoration/conservation is an option in the future, sustainable wet use, but paludiculture may be a good alternative, either for a limited period of time to reduce nutrient loads, or for a longer period to maintain productive use (harvest of biomass). We had tried to set up an pilot in the peatland area of Bargerveen .
Potential for learning or transfer
It is important to recognize that paludiculture is a more sustainable alternative to traditional farming practices in wetland areas. It contributes partially to peatland restoration efforts, accounting for about 4% of such measures in the Province of Drenthe. Additionally, paludiculture represents a significant shift in land management practices for many farmers and landowners who are looking to reduce their negative impacts on the environment. This approach can encourage a broader acceptance of sustainable land use and more environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
This practice aligns with the EU Green Deal's goals to mitigate climate change-related risks such as floods and droughts. Paludiculture projects should be developed in a more scientifically sound manner, with results shown in practical landuse. The exchange of experiences between European countries is valuable for fostering paludiculture implementation in Latvia and showcasing good examples and lessons learned.