From: Ecology Center Fund <ecologycntr@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: sci.geo.meteorology
Date: 20 Aug 92 08:39 PDT
Subject: FOE Peat Bogs & Climat (X-post)
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1466900274:000:11149
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!ecologycntr    Aug 20 08:39:00 1992


Topic 124       FOE: Peat Bogs & Climate
larris  en.climate       6:43 am  Aug 19, 1992
 
From: Lelani Arris <larris>
Subject: FOE: Peat Bogs & Climate
 
/* Written  2:52 pm  Aug 18, 1992 by gn:foeinfo in cdp:foe.press */
/* ---------- "damaging bogs boosts climate chang" ---------- */
Environment Press
Not for use before: 15/8/92
DAMAGING BOGS BOOSTS CLIMATE CHANGE
- commercial peat mining for horticulture and fuel main
culprits.
Research carried out for Friends of the Earth by the Wetland
Ecosystems Research Group [1] confirms that the world's
peatlands are a major carbon store, containing three times as
much carbon as tropical rainforests [2].  Left alone they can
store carbon for thousands of years.  However, human
exploitation of just 7 per cent of the planet's peatlands has
created a long-term annual net carbon dioxide emission
equivalent to 3-5 per cent of annual global fossil fuel
emissions [3]. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main 'greenhouse
gas'.
In the UK, over 45 per cent of the original peatland (both
lowland and upland) has been damaged.  The net annual shift of
CO2 from peatbogs due to disturbance and damage is significant
- in the UK equivalent to over 50% of CO2 emissions from all
domestic households, or 40% of all transport emissions [4].
Robin Maynard, Friends of the Earth's Peat Campaigner, said,
"This research confirms that commercial exploitation of
peatbogs whether in the UK, Ireland, Finland or anywhere else
is unsustainable.  The functional role of peatbogs as carbon
stores, in addition to their undisputed nature conservation
value, demands that Government policy on peatbogs must now be
- 'Do Not Disturb!'"
The research findings have been submitted to the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC is
considering matters relevant to the recently agreed
international Convention on Climate Change which states that,
'all relevant sources, sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse
gases' should be taken into account when considering policies
'to anticipate, prevent or minimise the causes of climate
change and mitigate its adverse effects.' [5]
... more follows
The research findings and an 'Agenda for Action on Peatbogs'
has also been sent to the Prime Minister. [6]
THE MAIN CAUSES OF CARBON RELEASE FROM PEATBOGS
Per hectare the most rapid release of carbon from a peatland
store is produced in descending order by:
1. Horticultural and fuel peat extraction
The most rapid export of carbon is caused by the mining of
peatbogs for fuel or horticultural peat: on average over 180
tonnes of CO2 per hectare every year - equivalent to the
annual emissions of 50 cars [7].  The UK and Ireland, two of
the world's most intensive horticultural peat exploiters, are
disproportionate contributors to emissions [8].
2. Agriculture
Much of the UK's lowland peatbogs have long been converted to
agriculture.  In the uplands, at least 50% of peatlands may
have been affected by agriculture, mainly moorland drainage or
'gripping'.  Globally, during the 1980s [9], the rate of
conversion of peatland to agriculture may have been as high as
100,000 hectares per annum.  On an area basis, arable cropping
may yield 40-150 tonnes of CO2 per hectare per annum.
3. Forestry
During the 1980s, commercial afforestation affected the
largest area of peatlands globally, amounting to 435,000
hectares per year.  Planting trees on peatbogs, contrary to
popular belief, increases atmospheric CO2 - as more carbon is
released from the drained peatbog than can ever be taken up
and stored by the plantation trees [10].  Annual carbon loss
per hectare is however, at a lower rate than for extraction
and arable cropping, being some 1-10 tonnes of CO2 per hectare
per annum.
For Further Information contact:
Robin Maynard (Senior Campaigner):  071-250 0861
Duncan McLaren (Research Officer):  071-250 0852/490 1555 x421
Adeela Warley (Information Officer):071 490 2677
... more follows
 
AGENDA FOR ACTION ON PEATBOGS
 
In simple terms, to prevent further increases in emissions
further disturbance to peatlands must be avoided.  Friends of
the Earth on the basis of the research findings has submitted
the following Agenda for Action to the UK Government:
1.  All UK agricultural, forestry, and minerals planning
legislation must be reviewed to prevent continuing and further
damage to peatlands.  Specifically, revocation of old planning
permissions for peat extraction must be available to planning
authorities without the current major compensation
implications. Local Authorities currently have the powers
under the Minerals Act 1981 to review and revoke minerals
planning permissions, but this is tied to heavy compensation
requirements.  Any compensation requirements should be limited
to a company's specific investment in excavation and
processing machinery and facilities, not to the potential
value of the peat left in the ground.
2.  The 'wise use' requirement of the Ramsar Convention on
Wetlands of International Importance [11] must be implemented
with regard to the management and protection of peatlands.
The UK is one of sixty-five signatories to the Ramsar
Convention, which seeks to promote the wise use of all
wetlands and special protection for those listed under the
Convention.  'Wise use' is defined as involving , 'the
maintenance of their ecological character, as a basis not only
for nature conservation, but for sustainable development'.
A proposed UK Ramsar site demanding immediate protection is
the Flow Country.  The largest single expanse of blanket bog
in the world and the largest single area of habitat in the UK,
the Flow Country has already suffered severe damage from
forestry and is threatened by commercial fuel peat extraction.
[12]  The Flow Country holds the carbon store equivalent to
the entire remaining area of tropical rainforest in Nigeria.
[13]
3.  Water tables should be maintained on existing peatland
areas, and reinstated wherever conditions are suitable for
peat-forming vegetation to re-establish.  Examples of sites
requiring such comprehensive measures are Thorne and Hatfield
Moors in south Yorkshire - both proposed for designation by
English Nature as Ramsar sites.   These sites, which are still
extensively mined for peat, should be confirmed as Ramsar
sites as soon as possible.
... notes follow
 
NOTES TO EDITORS:
 
1.   The Global Status of Peatlands and their Role in Carbon
Cycling  by Philip Immirzi and Edward Maltby with Richard
Clymo is published by Friends of the Earth, (Publications
Department, 26-28 Underwood St., London N1 7JQ; 071-490 1555).
Price 17.00.  A summary version, 'Do Not Disturb! Peatbogs
and the Greenhouse Effect', outlining the research and its
recommendations is also available, priced at 4.50.
2. Globally peatlands cover about 397 million hectares, just 3
per cent of the planet's land area, yet hold 329-528 billion
tonnes of carbon.  Tropical rainforests extend to almost twice
the area of peatlands, but contain less than one third the
carbon.
3. Carbon relations can be measured as a shift, adding the
source created to the lost sink. The annual shift due to land
use change: 0.66-1.00 billion tonnes;  global emissions from
fossil fuels: 21 billion tonnes of CO2
4. The UK peatland carbon shift due to agriculture, forestry
and horticultural extraction is probably equivalent to 5.8-
12.5 Million tonnes (Mt) of CO2. UK domestic emissions of CO2
in 1990 were 22 Mt. transport emissions 30 Mt.
5. The IPCC is the group of international scientists charged
by Governments to produce the background science and
information to guide political action and agreements on
Climate Change.  Greenhouse gas emissions from drainage of
wetlands are included in the methodology for measuring
national emissions.  This Convention was signed up to by over
150 Governments (including the UK) in June 1992 at the Rio
Earth Summit.  Article 3, the Principles of the Convention
states,
'The Parties should take precautionary measures to anticipate,
prevent or minimise the causes of climate change and mitigate
its adverse effects.  Where there are threats of serious or
irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty should
not be used as a reason for postponing such measures, taking
into account that policies and measures should take into
account all ...relevant sources, sinks and reservoirs of
greenhouse gases and adaptation, and comprise all economic
sectors.  Efforts to address climate change may be carried out
cooperatively by interested Parties.'
6. See attached sheet - 'Agenda for Action on Peatbogs'.
7. Horticultural or fuel extraction: 180 tonnes of CO2 per
hectare, equivalent to the annual emissions of 50 cars;
arable: 40-150 tonnes of CO2 per hectare (on average, 25
cars); pasture and forestry: just 1-10 tonnes of CO2 per
hectare (on average, 3 cars).
... more follows
8. At present (excluding the former USSR) the UK accounts
forabout 8 per cent of horticultural production, despite
holding just 0.7 per cent of the world's peatlands and Ireland
3 per cent on 0.5 per cent of peatlands.
9. The most recent data available is for the 1980s. The rates
of land-use change may have changed since then.
10. The release of stored CO2 through peat wastage is often
greater than the accumulation of carbon through photosynthesis
into plant matter.  Although under optimal conditions, forest
growth might accumulate carbon more rapidly than the bog is
releasing it, the carbon pool in the trees will never exceed
the amount of carbon in the maximum standing biomass, which
for most temperate species, rarely exceeds 100 tonnes of
carbon per hectare, reached over a century or so.  On the
other hand, virtually the entire carbon store of the peatbog
(often over 1,500 tonnes of carbon per hectare) will
eventually be released. Even if the carbon is withheld as wood
products, the carbon will be released by decay. Using
realistic decay functions, the Forestry Commission has
demonstrated that the maximum in the UK (even on more
productive, non-peat soils) is only 135 tonnes per hectare.
11. The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
Especially as Waterfowl Habitat was drawn up and signed on
2/2/1971 in the town of Ramsar in Iran, hence 'Ramsar
Convention.'  Ramsar seeks to promote the wise use of all
wetlands and special protection for wetlands on the
convention's list.
12. The Flow Country covers the extensive tracts of blanket
bog of Caithness and Sutherland in Scotland.  Extending for
some 400,000 hectares, 1/5th of the Flow Country has already
been drained and planted with conifers.  Other threats include
a recently installed factory for producing peat-based barbecue
fuel, and a proposal to export peat to burn in Swedish power
stations.
13. Per metre depth, an average peatbog will hold 550 tonnes
of carbon per hectare.  Assuming the peat averages 2.25 metres
in depth, then it will hold over 1200 tonnes of carbon per
hectare, and a total store of almost 500 million tonnes.  This
is equivalent to 3 million hectares of tropical moist forest
(at 165 tonnes of carbon per hectare).
 
Friends of the Earth is a member of the Peatlands Campaign
Consortium
ref/clut/pghenvpr.doc