In Moscow, FAO shared experience on climate-smart agriculture, management of peatlands

For Russia, the issue of science-based restoration and sustainable, wet management of peatlands is particularly relevant. The urgency is determined by the fact that this type of wetlands perform a number of important ecosystem functions for humans. If there is a functional failure, caused in particular by anthropogenic factors, the negative consequences are numerous and diverse.

Organized by FAO, a round table discussion entitled “Climate-smart agriculture in wetlands and peatlands: Prospect for Russia” was held on 5 March on the premises of the Russian State Agrarian University – Timiryazev Academy. Experts were looking into specific opportunities to further develop wet biomass production on previously drained peatlands. This approach, called ‘paludiculture’ allows growing moisture-loving crops, feed, fibre species, trees, fish, small-scale livestock on peatlands for sustainable development of territories and climate change mitigation.

The forum reviewed international and Russian experience, including best practice in the field of wet biomass production and value chains, for example for decorative landscaping, , as well as measures to stimulate and regulate the water regime of peatlands to preserve their ecosystem services.

Drainage of wetlands, among others, generates increased greenhouse gas emissions and accelerates global climatic changes, increases risks of floods, leads to loss of unique ecological niches and decline in biodiversity. Luckily, wet production systems offer an important opportunity also for Russian land managers.

Peat bog is a terrestrial ecosystem that accumulates biomass faster than it decomposes. Peat deposits of bogs contain 500 gigatonnes of carbon – twice as much as the biomass of forests, highlighted to the audience, mainly students,  Tatiana Minayeva, associate expert, Wetlands International, and coordinator of the “Conservation of peatlands in Russia” project.

“Drained peat bogs are responsible for 30 percent of the total agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and 5 percent of that of the industrial sector,” Minayeva noted. It is essential to restore “the natural functions of bogs. They contribute to water retention, accumulation of organic material, and conservation of biological diversity. Moreover, it is economically profitable.”

At the same time, Minayeva added, “the danger of peat fires also contributes to a wide range of human diseases, such as pulmonary, respiratory, cardiovascular diseases, and neuro-behavioral reactions.”

The problem is acute, universal, and long lasting, but there are ways to manage it. FAO has activities on it, and coordinates efforts to support countries improving peatland management.

To cope with negative consequences of unsustainable peatland management, Maria Nuutinen, FAO forestry officer specialized on peatlands recommended the following steps: 

• Conserve intact peatlands;
• Rewet drained peatlands;
• Implement adaptive management where rewetting is not possible;
• Monitor to understand change and reiterate as needed;
• Prevent fires.

At the same time, “each climate-smart practice needs to be specific to local conditions, and while providing livelihood opportunities, it should help communities adapt to climate change and reduce risks and greenhouse gas emissions,” Nuutinen pointed out.

FAO also produces tools to be used for sustainable peatlands management, such as the FAO EX-ACT. Based on the globally approved methodology of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it allows estimating the greenhouse gas emissions of various peatland management choices, and is.

“Peatlands oxidize if they are exposed to air instead of being water-logged. Different amounts of emissions are caused for example by drainage, fire, rewetting and peat extraction,” said Nuutinen. “FAO’s EX-ACT tool helps estimate these impacts even before activities take place. The user can also insert own measurement data on greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Up to 20 percent of peatlands are presumed to be already drained, burned and converted to agricultural land,” said Yuxin Tong, FAO associate professional officer, expert of the Global Soil Partnership. “The degradation of peatland leads to substantial releases of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Preserving peatlands is the main path to keep the carbon in the soil.”

What has to be done? The answer by Global Soil Partnership, a noteworthy FAO initiative, must be quite familiar to professionals. “The most important recommendation to preserve organic carbon in the soil is to avoid or stop drainage and keep the peat soils wet with the water table close to the surface. Near-natural water table leads to a significant reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions,” Tong added.

FAO expert presented several cases of commendable practices from Belarus, China, and Germany. The Republic of Belarus effectively uses biomass from reeds as a substitute for peat in energy production. “After rewetting of these excavated fen peatlands, large reedbeds developed by succession.” Moreover, major investments are necessary for special harvesting machinery that can move on soft, wet or inundated soils, the advantages are manifold.

“The regional production of biomass briquettes and pellets instead of peat briquettes is opening up new income opportunities in rural areas,” Yuxin Tong said.

Another remarkable example of smart management when farming of moss, sphagnum, replaces peat in horticultural substrate in Germany. “This water–based cultivation allows bog waters to be used as reservoirs to irrigate cultivated areas in dry periods.”

Speakers of the forum all agreed that growing biomass of peatland plants and moisture-loving crops, trees and fish on wetlands is part of a climate-smart solution. This method would not only allow adapting to changing climatic conditions, drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, stabilize the hydrological regime and biological diversity, but also diversify income sources of local communities. Species adapted to paludiculture can be used develop forage, generate renewable fuel, produce eco-friendly building materials, raw materials for crafts and biochemical industries, and help in greening cities and rural settlements.

Academic experts brought together by the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy spearheaded the round table discussions. It is part of an FAO-supported project on "Restoration of peat bogs of Russia in order to prevent fires and mitigate climate change".