Reducing CO2 emissions by restoring drained and degrading peatlands in the Northern European plains (LIFE PEAT Restore)

One of the main objectives of the project is to adapt the methodology for calculating gas emissions based on vegetation on a regional scale in order to assess their actual emissions.

Project duration

2016 07 01 to 2022 03 31 (due to Covid-19 the project has been extended until 2022 03 31)

Budget

€1,159,380

Field of activity

Climate change is an existential crisis that we no longer have the right to ignore.

Project objectives

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by restoring degraded peatlands. One of the main objectives of the project is to adapt the methodology for calculating gas emissions based on vegetation at the regional level in order to assess their actual emissions. The main leader of the project is the German environmental organization NABU, 5 countries and 12 partners are participating in the project. In Lithuania, the project was implemented by LGF and the Peat Companies Association.

Project results

1. In the autumn of 2021, as this project was coming to an end, it became clear that free project funds had become available (after the Polish project partners refused some activities) to implement the restoration of the hydrological regime in the Plinkšiai bog. Therefore, in January-February 2022, the works provided for in the Plinkšiai Nature Management Plan were coordinated with the institutions responsible for the territory - the State Enterprise State Forest Enterprise and the Directorate of the Samogitia National Park. In March 2022, the restoration of the hydrological level of the Plinkšiai bog was implemented by UAB Transjuda. 2. In total, over the course of almost 5 years of the project, hydrological restoration works were implemented on an area of 462 ha in 5 bogs: Amalva bog (215 ha), Pūsčia peat bog (80 ha), Sacharos peat bog (88 ha), Plinkšiai peat bog (69 ha), Aukštumala bog (10 ha). The wetland restoration work was carried out on an area equal to 647 football fields.