The current state and ecological restoration of peatlands in Estonia

Peatlands are globally important ecosystems for their habitats, carbon sink and freshwater reservoir functions. Estonia is among the most peatland-rich countries worldwide with ca 20% (9,150 km2) of its land area covered with peat soils. Majority of these peatlands, however, are altered by the drainage for the agriculture, forestry and peat extraction that has led to a degradation of peatland ecosystems, and declined their functioning. The rapid loss of peatland habitats, subsidence of peat soils and carbon emissions after water level drawdown have highlighted the need for the ecological restoration of drained peatlands. Although the first restoration attempts in the early 2000s in Estonia covered only minor areas, the current increase of restoration projects in quantity and quality has been promising, and the aim to restore 10,000 ha of degraded sites in Estonia for 2020 is likely to be implemented

L’état actuel et la restauration écologique des tourbières en Estonie

Les tourbières sont des écosystèmes importants à l’échelle mondiale pour leurs habitats, leur puits de carbone et leurs fonctions de réservoirs d’eau douce. L’Estonie est l’un des pays les plus riches en tourbières au monde avec environ 20 % (9 150 km²) de son territoire couvert de sols tourbeux. Cependant, la majorité de ces tourbières sont altérées par le drainage pour l’agriculture, la sylviculture et l’extraction de la tourbe, cette dernière ayant entraîné une dégradation des écosystèmes tourbeux et diminué leur fonctionnement. La perte rapide d’habitats de tourbières, l’affaissement des sols tourbeux et les émissions de carbone suite à la baisse du niveau de l’eau ont mis en évidence la nécessité d’une restauration écologique des tourbières drainées. Bien que les premières tentatives de restauration en Estonie au début des années 2000 n’aient porté que sur des zones mineures, l’augmentation actuelle du nombre et de la qualité des projets de restauration sont prometteuses, et l’objectif de restaurer 10 000 ha de sites dégradés en Estonie d’ici 2020 devrait être atteint

Controls of Sphagnum growth and the role of winter

Abstract Sphagnum is the major genus in northern peatlands that contributes to peat formation and carbon sequestration. Sphagnum growth in summer has been fairly well studied but the information about growth in autumn and winter is limited. Therefore, we studied how the growth of Sphagnum is seasonally distributed with a particular interest on possible winter growth. The linear increment and biomass production of three Sphagum species was measured in three Northern European bogs over a year. In all sites, our results indicate the highest annual linear increment in S. angustifolium (28 mm), followed by S. magellanicum (20 mm) and S. fuscum (13 mm), but the biomass production was fairly even among the species (189, 192 and 215 g m−2, respectively). Both linear increment and biomass production depended mostly on meteorological parameters rather than ecophysiological or microsite properties. The seasonal measurements revealed a significant linear increment and biomass production during the winter that accounted for ca. 10% and ca. 5% from the annual values, respectively. Moreover, the mean daily rates of linear increment in autumn often exceeded the increment in summer. Our results thus indicate the ability for year-around growth of Sphagna if the conditions are favorable, including during boreal winter

Diatom and microarthropod communities of three airfields in Estonia – their differences and similarities and possible linkages to airfield properties

Even though airfields, which are often anthropologically modified natural areas, are continuously influenced by human activities, their soils are still dynamic ecosystems containing various habitats for microscopic groups of organisms which are often ignored. In this exploratory study, the microarthropod fauna, Collembola (Hexapoda) and oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida), and diatom (Bacillariophyta) flora were identified in three Estonian airfields, both runway sides and snow-melting sites were investigated. The communities of these airfields shared approximately 10-60% of the species belonging to each studied bioindicator group. The shared species were generally characteristic of a broad habitat spectrum. Communities were also characterized based on their species richness and diversity and in relation to location and the purpose of different airfield areas (e.g. snow-melting sites vs. runway sides). Also, species indicative of a specific airfield or purpose of the area within the airfield were identified using Indicator Species Analysis. Some possible linkages between airfield properties and communities, e.g. airfield that had highest pollutant concentrations had also maintained high diversity and species richness, were noted. Despite the contamination levels the airfield soils had still maintained a functioning soil ecosystem

Du glint baltique au lac Peïpous

De la taille de l’ancienne région française Midi-Pyrénées, l’Estonie, petit pays mystérieux aux confins nord-est de l’Europe, est une inconnue au regard de ses voisins scandinaves, russes ou baltes, et ce malgré son appartenance depuis deux décennies à l’Union Européenne. Pourtant elle mérite mieux que cette relative ignorance. Le peuple Este, malgré des périodes de domination étrangère dont la dernière, soviétique, marque encore profondément les esprits, a su tracer sa propre voie, loin des circuits touristiques traditionnels. Sa très faible densité de population lui a permis de préserver coutumes ancestrales et espaces naturels et l’environnement estonien se targue d’abriter l’un des plus grands lacs d’Europe (le lac Peïpous), des curiosités géomorphologiques remarquables (cratère météoritique de Saaremaa, Glint Baltique) ou encore une langue exceptionnellement préservée, différente de toutes les racines européennes. C’est par le prisme environnemental que nous vous proposons de découvrir ou redécouvrir cet Etat particulier où natures et cultures s’imbriquent harmonieusement, offrant aux géographes un large éventail de milieux et donc d’objets géographiques à étudier. Estonia, a small mysterious country located on the north-eastern borders of Europe, as large as the former French region named Midi-Pyrénées, is a stranger to its Scandinavian, Russian or Baltic neighbours even though it has been a member of the European Union for two decades. And yet, it deserves better than this relative ignorance. Despite periods of foreign domination, the last one of which was a Soviet one, the Estonian people still makes a deep impression and has been able to chart its own course far from the traditional sightseeing tours. Its very low population density has allowed it to preserve ancestral customs and natural spaces. The Estonian environment prides itself of having one of the largest lakes in Europe (Lake Peipus), remarkable geomorphic curiosities (meteorite crater of Saaremaa, Baltic Glint) and an exceptionally well-preserved language, different from all European roots. We invite you, through the environmental prism, to discover or rediscover this special state where natures and cultures interlock in harmony, offering geographers a wide range of environments and therefore geographic subjects to study