PEATMAP

PEATMAP project

A prototype model for the study of peatland distribution, ecology and carbon dynamics in the Iberian Peninsula landscape mosaic

Why peatlands matter?

Peatlands are some of the most important terrestrial carbon sinks, providing major services for humankind: regulation services of climate and water quality, biodiversity support, matter and energy provision, and also cultural and recreational services. These ecosystems are especially vulnerable to the impacts of human and natural threats that do not favor the permanent presence of water, oligotrophy, and anoxia, namely drainage, land use and land cover changes, biological invasions, and climate change. Therefore, efforts must be made to map these landscape mosaics with peatlands and assess their current ecological status to acknowledge the stored carbon and in what conditions.

IBERIAN pENINSULA PEATLANDS: dISCOVERING CINDERELLAS

There is a knowledge gap about Iberian peatlands and swobs.

In this region, these ecosystems have been described as rare, or with low peat accumulation rates owing largely to dry and warm climate conditions in most of the Peninsula. This is further worsened by the “Cinderella Syndrome”, according to which they are misclassified as other ecosystems.

Although it is recognised that, in this latitude, peat deposits have less extension when comparing with the boreal latitudes (where extensive peatland’s landscapes exist), here these ecosystems harbor a higher flora variety.

Iberian peatlands are mainly known in northern mountain areas with high precipitation, but also in low-energy wetlands (e.g., river floodplains and estuaries and freshwater coastal lagoons).

Iberian peatlands are under various types of protection status (e.g., Protected Areas and Classified Areas), are considered habitats of Community interest under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, and central to achieving the carbon emission reduction targets of the Paris Agreement.

mAIN GOALS

Improve knowledge about the distribution of peatlands and swobs in the Iberian Peninsula and its accurate mapping
Assess the ecological status of the ecosystems and the existing peat types
Develop a ground-truthed peat-depth model across the Peninsula
Present a peatland classification that mirrors the real diversity and uniqueness of Iberian peatlands as a key nature-based solution to combat climate change

TaSks

1. Modelling peatland distribution in the Iberian Peninsula

2. Assessing the past and present-day ecological status of Iberian peatlands: peatland macroscopic and microscopic analysis

TEAM MEMBERS

Centre of Geographical Studies - Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning - University of Lisbon