How to assess cutover Peatland regeneration with combined organic matter indicators ?

Abstract

International audienceWhen restored, cutover peatlands can favour biodiversity and carbon (C) sequestration. Within the EU program RECIPE, we aimed to identify combinations of site physico-chemical conditions, vegetation composition and below-ground microbiological characteristics that are beneficial to the long-term biodiversity and C sink function regeneration. To unreveal these characteristics, we assessed the bioindicator value of peat organic matter (OM) physico-chemistry from cutover peatlands at various stages of regeneration. Although OM continues to reflect disturbances in the catotelm deep peat, we show that along the chronosequence the regenerated peat tends to be biochemically and physically similar to the one from the non exploited area of the same site. The combination of several indicators provides an efficient assessment of ecological conditions and makes valuable for the management of cutover peatlands