Restoration of blanket bog vegetation for biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water regulation

The study compared rotational burning, mowing, and uncut controls in UK blanket bogs to determine their effects on peat-forming vegetation and ecosystem services. Findings indicate that mowing generally better supports 'active' bog communities and improves water table levels and flood alleviation, though it may increase phosphorus export. Burning was found to be the least beneficial for supporting active vegetation, and both burning and mowing caused plots to switch from net carbon sinks to net sources immediately following management.

• Rotational burning was identified as the least effective management method for promoting 'active' bog vegetation, especially at the driest study site, although it resulted in high surface carbon accumulation due to charcoal.
• Mowing encourages the re-establishment of typical bog communities and increases peat moisture and water tables, which benefits cranefly and bird populations in dry conditions. Additionally, mowing reduced stream flow at two sites, suggesting potential for downstream flood alleviation during heavy rainfall.
• Mowing may have negative environmental trade-offs, including increased phosphorus export into streams due to brash decomposition—which could lead to reservoir eutrophication—and the encouragement of sedge vegetation that may negatively affect water quality and methane emissions.
• Both burning and mowing caused managed plots to transition from being net carbon sinks to net carbon sources. While active blanket bogs are long-term carbon sinks, they can emit significant methane through anaerobic decomposition, especially in warmer and wetter conditions.
• The study concludes that monitoring of carbon storage, carbon fluxes, and greenhouse gas emissions must continue over at least one full management cycle, approximately 10 to 15 years, to accurately assess impacts.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2020). Restoration of blanket bog vegetation for biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water regulation. https://www.sei.org/publications/restoration-of-heather-blanket-bog/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Restoration of blanket bog vegetation for biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water regulation. 2020. https://www.sei.org/publications/restoration-of-heather-blanket-bog/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Restoration of blanket bog vegetation for biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water regulation |date=27 March 2020 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/restoration-of-heather-blanket-bog/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2020restoration, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Restoration of blanket bog vegetation for biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water regulation}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2020}, month = mar, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/restoration-of-heather-blanket-bog/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }