Release of CCRP 15 Report ‘Carbon Restore –The Potential of Restored Irish Peatlands for Carbon Uptake and Storage'

The Final EPA CCRP Report 15: ‘Carbon Restore –The Potential of Restored Irish Peatlands for Carbon Uptake and Storage' has been released by the EPA. The project assessed the potential economic value of restoration in terms of avoided losses and gains of C (€/tonne CO2-eq ha-1) through the use of a number of timeline scenarios. These followed the peatland from the cessation of peat extraction (Tzero), through rewetting (T1) and on to the present day (Tpresent).

The results show that in the period T1 to Tpresent, an estimated 75 tonnes CO2-eq ha-1 was mitigated by the restoration actions at Bellacorick – resulting in an estimated value of €1506 ha-1 in avoided losses. In addition, net C sequestration at the peatland during the 12-month period of this study (Tpresent) was worth an estimated €118 ha-1 yr-1 has now been released.

The report is available for download from http://www.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/research/climate/

Source: HortiTrends News Room