Summary
This review synthesises evidence on the sustainable management of cultivated peatlands in Switzerland, examining the tensions between agricultural use and soil carbon preservation. The authors identify key challenges in maintaining peatland productivity whilst minimising carbon loss and subsidence, and outline potential pathways for improved management that integrate agronomic, environmental and policy considerations. The work suggests that context-specific, multi-stakeholder approaches are necessary to balance competing land-use objectives on these carbon-rich but sensitive soils.
UK applicability
The UK has significant lowland peatland resources, particularly in East Anglia and the Midlands, where similar tensions between agricultural productivity and peatland conservation exist. The Swiss experience and management frameworks may offer relevant insights for UK policy development around peatland agriculture and greenhouse gas mitigation targets.
Key measures
Management practices, soil carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, soil subsidence, regulatory frameworks, stakeholder perspectives
Outcomes reported
The study examined sustainable management practices on cultivated peatlands and their environmental and agronomic implications. It assessed challenges and opportunities for balancing agricultural productivity with soil health and carbon preservation on peatland soils.
Topic tags
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