Regenerating raised bogs more efficiently and more effectively

BERN HUB | Project LANAT-4

Our goal:

Our aim is to develop the currently lacking scientific foundations and expertise required to regenerate raised bogs efficiently and effectively.

A successfully regenerated area in the raised bog Steinmöösli in Schangnau. Photo: Abteilung Naturförderung ANF (Archive of the Nature Promotion Department)

In a nutshell:

Raised bogs are biotopes with highly specialized flora and fauna. They act as reservoirs for CO2 and water and have a balancing effect on the microclimate. With skillful visitor management, they can also be used as attractive recreational areas. Peatlands are among the most endangered habitats in Switzerland. By adopting the Rothenthurm Initiative in 1987, Swiss voters expressed their desire to preserve the last remaining peatlands in Switzerland, and, where necessary and possible, to restore them. Restoration of raised bogs is technically complex. In many places, the necessary knowledge bases, specific expertise, and success monitoring are lacking.

Because the majority of raised bogs have been disturbed by human use, efforts are underway to prioritize them in terms of need for restoration. For the prioritized peatlands, necessary baseline data will be collected and restoration measures will be implemented. The effects of restoration measures on biodiversity and maintenance requirements will be monitored to ensure their long-term quality and transferability to other peatlands.

Expert opinions differ on the best approach to regeneration. An evaluation of completed projects will examine the suitability and effectiveness of selected measures towards regeneration. In a workshop building on this evaluation, experts will formulate recommended approaches and identify additional research needs.

The Seefeld raised bog at Grüenenberg pass. Bogs cover only 3 percent of global land area while storing 21 percent of the carbon in soils (Source: Swiss Biodiversity Forum). Photo: Abteilung Naturförderung ANF (Archive of the Nature Promotion Department)

A spider sits on the peat moss in the “Chlepfibeeri” bog. Photo: Hintermann & Weber

Regeneration of the raised bog Lörmoos: sheet pile walls prevent water runoff and thus improve the water balance of the bog – a key factor for restoration. Photo: Abteilung Naturförderung ANF (Archive of the Nature Promotion Department)

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In collaboration with:

Amt für Landwirtschaft und Natur des Kantons Bern LANAT (Office for Agriculture and Nature of the Canton of Bern)