MOSS - Management strategies for tree colonized peatland ecOSyStems

Peatlands and forests are key elements when it comes to meet several challenges outlined in the UN climate and sustainable development goals.

In recent years, land-use and climate changes have facilitated for an accelerating tree colonization at many peatlands, which in turn has negative effects on biodiversity, hydrology, carbon sequestration and thereby climate.

We therefore propose for a new research project, MOSS (Management strategies for tree colonized peatland ecOSyStems), in which we aim to (1) use monitoring techniques and tree-ring analysis (dendrochronology) to study tree colonization, tree growth and tree mortality as well as links and feedbacks between the trees and the hydrology on natural, ditched and rewetted peatlands, (2) in a greenhouse study survival and biomass production for pine saplings and mosses growing under different hydrological conditions, and (3) use existing vegetation models to provide reliable projections of peatland ecosystem responses in the context of various climate and management scenarios.

Based on our observations we can formulate recommendations and directives on how peatlands should be preserved or restored given different tree coverage and hydrological histories.

We will cooperate with stakeholders operating peatland restoration projects, which enables direct implementation of our hypothesis and results in restoration programs to maximize the social benefits of the project in terms of sustainable management.