Intact and managed peatland soils as a source and sink of GHGs from 1850 to 2100

Summary

This modelling study assessed greenhouse gas dynamics in peatland soils from 1850 to 2100, contrasting intact and managed peatlands under multiple climate and land-use scenarios. The work demonstrates that peatlands have transitioned from long-term carbon sinks to contemporary net GHG sources, with management practices and future climate conditions substantially influencing their trajectory as either future sinks or sources. The findings suggest that peatland management decisions carry significant implications for atmospheric GHG concentrations and climate mitigation policy.

UK applicability

The United Kingdom contains extensive peatland reserves, particularly in Scotland, northern England, and Wales, making these findings directly relevant to UK climate policy and land management. UK peatland restoration and protection decisions—including drainage, rewetting, and conservation priorities—will influence national and regional GHG balances in line with the scenarios modelled here.

Key measures

Greenhouse gas fluxes (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) from peatland soils; net global warming potential; cumulative emissions and sequestration over time under different management and climate scenarios

Outcomes reported

The study modelled temporal dynamics of greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration in peatland soils across 250 years (1850–2100), comparing intact versus managed peatlands under varying climate and land-use scenarios. It quantified peatlands' historical role as carbon sinks and contemporary status as net GHG sources, with projections to century's end.

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