24 Feb 2023
A recent review published in Mires and Peat quantifies greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals in Irish peatlands.
Since peatlands cover around 20 % of the land area in the Republic of Ireland, their management is of particular significance in reducing national GHG emissions.
The article reviewed peatland carbon flux studies within Ireland, extracting data for carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide fluxes for various peatland land uses and management practices.
The review found that half of all peatland GHG emissions come from grasslands on organic soils and nearly one-third come from domestic extraction on drained peatlands.
The paper suggests that peatland management through rewetting and restoration has the potential to substantially reduce emissions from drained peatlands.
