Rewetting of drained peatlands provides permanent and fast GHG mitigation: EJP Soil Policy brief

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from drained peatlands are >100 Mt CO2 eq. annually in EU. In rewetting, water level is raised to mitigate emissions of CO2 and N2O from peat decomposition. Paludiculture is the practice of rewetting coupled with crop biomass harvest. Studies on paludiculture at selected sites showed: Raising the water table decreases peat decomposition, It is difficult to reach net carbon (C) sequestration, Biomass harvest does not necessarily compromise improvement in the C balance, High range of N2O emissions (from minor to high), Moderate CH4 emissions.