The objective is to develop a portal for any relevant information that can be shared around the community and help others discover paludiculture. This is of course an organic process (excuse the pun) and the site will continue to evolve with time. To help us achieve this we would appreciate your input. If you have any content or links to companies, publications or other research that you think we should consider including please email us at paludiculture@niab.com.
Links to other sites
An important part of this page is linking openly to other websites. This approach offers access to more detailed information and a chance to check out a different perspective. We select links we consider are suitable and relevant to the sites content. Whilst external links are reviewed on a regular basis NIAB however cannot accept responsibility for the content of external internet sites. The inclusion of a link to an external website should not be understood to be an endorsement of that website or the site’s owners, products, or services.
RESOURCES
Abel S, and Kallweit T (2022)
Potential Paludiculture Plants of the Holarctic.
Research results have been compiled in the 'Database of Potential Paludiculture Plants', the DPPP. This project was initiated already in 2013 with a worldwide scope (Abel et al. 2013; GMC 2021). The literature search for the DPPP included primary (journals, books, proceedings) and secondary (abstracts, internet sources, other bibliographic tools) sources, and amounts to a total of 1128 plant entries. For this compilation, 95 species or species groups were selected from the DPPP for the Holarctic.
Proceedings of the Greifswald Mire Centre 04/2022 (self-published, ISSN 2627‐910X), 440 p.
Becker L, Wichmann S, Beckmann V (2020)
Common Reed for Thatching in Northern Germany:Estimating the Market Potential of Reed of Regional Origin
Reed has a long tradition as locally available thatching material, but nowadays thatch is a globally traded commodity. Germany and other major importing countries such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Denmark rely on high import rates to meet the national consumption. This study aimed at providing a detailed picture of the thatching reed market in Northern Germany and at assessing the market potential for reed of regional origin.
Resources 2020, 9, 146. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/9/12/146
Defra report (2022)
Machinery Requirements for Paludiculture
Current agricultural machinery is generally too heavy for use on wet peat soils and may not be appropriate for planting and harvesting certain paludiculture crops. This report fulfils three of the five objectives of Year 1 and Year 2 of the Machinery Pathway, namely:
1. Plan out whole-chain machinery requirements for priority crops, including off-site transport.
2. Review potential machinery solutions from other industries and countries for moving materials and working on wet soils.
3. Undertake a gap analysis of the whole-chain machinery requirements.
Machinery Requirements for Paludiculture
Ferré M, Muller A, Leifeld J, Bader C, Müller M and Engel S (2019)
Sustainable management of cultivated peatlands in Switzerland: Insights, challenges, and opportunities
This paper provides an overview of the farming situation on organic soils in a western region of Switzerland characterized by intensive vegetable farming and therefore by high opportunity costs of adopting sustainable practices on these soils. Based on a review of the academic and grey literature and interviews with regional experts, we find that the main challenges to a change in management practices include the profitability of the current land use, the difficult economic environment of farmers, the cultural background associated with the region, and the absence of systematic data on soil properties.
Land Use Policy 87:104019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.05.038
Geurts JJM, van Duinen G-JA, van Belle J, Wichmann S, Wichtmann W et al (2019)
Recognize the high potential of paludiculture on rewetted peat soils to mitigate climate change.
Journal of Sustainable and Organic Agricultural Systems 69:5–8. https://doi.org/10.3220/LBF1576769203000
Guêné-Nanchen M and t-Hilaire B (2022)
Sphagnum Farming in Canada: State of Knowledge.
The basic concepts about Sphagnum farming, including its benefits and the potential uses of Sphagnum fibres. Various aspects to consider when planning a farming site, namely, the site characteristics and the sources of plant material. The preparation of the farming site, encompassing all aspects of basin development, such as implementing the irrigation system and reintroducing plant material. Maintenance and monitoring of the farming site is presented, followed by harvesting, Sphagnum fibre conditioning, and the various resources needed. The conclusion provides an overview of the key elements along with some useful references.
CSPMA and APTHQ. Québec, Quebec. https://www.gret-perg.ulaval.ca/fileadmin/Fichiers/centre_recherche/APTHQ-Guide_Culture_sphaignes_ANG_web.pdf
Heinrich Böll Foundation, BUND and the Michael Succow Foundation (2023)
MoorAtlas (German).
Moors are important for the climate and biodiversity. This report looks at what is driving global peatland destruction and what are its local and global impacts? What is lost in the process? What are the drained peatlands used for? How can we protect peatlands?
https://www.greifswaldmoor.de/files/images/Mooratlas/Mooratlas2023_Web_20230106_kleiner.pdf
IPCC (2022)
Synthesis report of the IPCC sixth assessment report (AR6): Summary for Policymakers
This Synthesis Report (SYR) of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) summarises the state of knowledge of climate change, its widespread impacts and risks, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. It integrates the main findings of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) based on contributions from the three Working Groups , and the three Special Reports. The summary for Policymakers (SPM) is structured in three parts: SPM.A Current Status and Trends, SPM.B Future Climate Change, Risks, and Long-Term Responses, and SPM.C Responses in the Near Term.
https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6syr/pdf/IPCC_AR6_SYR_SPM.pdf
IUCN
What is so special about peatlands? The truth behind the bog
Peatlands are wetland landscapes that are characterised by waterlogged organic soils made of dead and decaying plants. They may not sound or look much on first glance, but dig a little deeper into the facts and figures and you’ll be amazed how this unique habitat functions and at the services it provides.
https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/sites/www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/files/Peatland_Leaflet_ONLINE_V2.pdf
IUCN UK(2018)
UK Peatland Strategy 2018-2040
The UK’s first collaborative Peatland Strategy has been developed by the IUCN UK Peatland Programme to capture and embed, for the long term, a shared vision for our peatlands, helping maintain a focus across a broad partnership and allowing progress to be marked and celebrated.
https://www.iucn-uk-peatlandprogramme.org/sites/default/files/header-images/Strategies/UK%20Peatland%20Strategy%202018_2040.pdf
Kandel TP, Karki S, Elsgaard L, Labouriau R, Lærke PE (2020)
Methane fluxes from a rewetted agricultural fen during two initial years of paludiculture.
Sci Environ 713:136670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136670
Office of National Statistics (ONS) UK natural capital: peatlands (2019)
Natural capital accounts for peatlands measures the ecosystem services which nature provides from this dramatic landscape, including water, carbon sequestration, food and recreation.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/bulletins/uknaturalcapitalforpeatlands/naturalcapitalaccounts
Smart T, Caporn S, Field C, Johnson S, Rogers K, Rowson J, Thomas P and Wright A (2020)
Greater Manchester Peat Pilot
Greater Manchester has set a target of net carbon neutrality by 2038. Modelling currently used by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) suggests that 50- 75% of peatland in the city region will need to be restored in order to achieve these targets, but this modelling may significantly underestimate the role of peat in net emissions budgets.
Using a combination of best available evidence and engagement with key partners and stakeholders, this report provides evidence on the spatial extent, condition, and depth of the peat resource in the city region, and associated GHG emissions based on current land use. Providing case studies of current issues around peat management in upland and lowland settings, and describe alternative options on a trajectory to good peat condition.
https://4051edcd-d15e-4216-b236-9c9179072fb7.usrfiles.com/ugd/4051ed_50107fc94e214ce38f4f5e467b4e820d.pdf
Tanneberger F, Abel S, Couwenberg J, Dahms T, Gaudig G et al (2021)
Towards net zero CO2 in 2050: an emission reduction pathway for organic soils in Germany.
Mires and Peat 27:1–17. https://doi.org/10.19189/MaP.2020.SNPG.StA.1
Tanneberger F, Birr F, Couwenberg J et al. (2022)
Saving soil carbon, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and the economy: paludiculture as sustainable land use option in German fen peatlands.
Reg Environ Change 22: 69. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10113-022-01900-8
Tanneberger F, Schröder C, Hohlbein M, Lenschow U, Permien T et al (2020)
Climate change mitigation through land use on rewetted peatlands–cross-sectoral spatial planning for paludiculture in Northeast Germany.
Wetlands: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-020-01310-8
Wichmann S (2017)
Commercial viability of paludiculture: a comparison of harvesting reeds for biogas production, direct combustion, and thatching.
Ecol Eng 103:497–505. https://doi.org/10.1016
WMO update (2022)
50:50 chance of global temperature temporarily reaching 1.5°C threshold in next five years