• December 3, 2024

Restoration of peat in Witte Veen helps nature and climate

In the Witte Veen there are still about thirty hectares of raised peat bog, which has become very rare in the Netherlands and has a great natural value. This special nature was threatened by desiccation and an excess of nitrogen deposition. That is why all kinds of measures have been taken over the past two years to restore the raised bog. This had two important reasons: to preserve the unique natural values ​​of the area and to strengthen biodiversity. And to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the raised bog and eventually even capture greenhouse gases.

👉🏻 Climate benefits 💚 

In addition to strengthening nature, this restoration project brings important climate benefits. Peat that dries out oxidized and emits CO2. These emissions are reduced by rewetting the raised peat. If the raised peat recovers properly, new peat may even be formed in the long term, thereby capturing CO2. By retaining more water, the Witte Veen is also better able to withstand major droughts. A healthy raised bog can retain a lot of water in wet times; during dry times, the water storage in the entire area is therefore maintained for longer. Not only a benefit for nature, but also for the climate. 

👉🏻 Research greenhouse gases 

What is special is that nature restoration in Witte Veen is linked to research into greenhouse gas emissions. This involves measuring CO2 and methane emissions in the raised bog. This is the first raised bog area in the Netherlands where such research is being conducted. The research will continue until 2026 and is subsidized by the European Union (LIFE). These measurements are also done in other places in Europe: Germany, Poland, Ireland and Belgium. Because peat growth can continue for thousands of years, such areas offer the greatest potential for capturing greenhouse gases. And at the same time there also lies a major challenge, because peat areas on earth - only 3% of the surface - store no less than 30% of the carbon on land. If you do not protect these areas properly, that large amount of carbon can be released as CO2.

👉🏻 Collaboration

The Witte Veen is part of a chain of raised bog areas along the German border. Most of these are included in Natura 2000, the European network of protected natural areas. Natuurmonumenten carries out this project together with the province of Overijssel and the municipality of Haaksbergen in the context of the Natura 2000 Development Task. The Ministry of LVVN contributes through Accelerated Nature Recovery and the European Union through the LIFE Multi Peat project. In this project, work is being done in five countries to restore (raised) peat to see how this contributes to achieving climate goals.

Liesbeth Voorthuijsen, Natuurmonumenten

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