P3: Promoting Peatland Potential What are the effects of restoration measures on plant types in a degraded raised bog: The Fochteloërveen case study.

Abstract

Anthropogenic impacts, including rising temperatures from fossil fuel emissions, widespread air and water pollution, and land use changes for farming and urbanization, have led to extensive destruction and degradation of critical landscapes. Bogs, in particular, are at risk, as they provide essential ecosystem services such as water purification, flood control, carbon storage, and recreation. The loss of these areas can be disastrous, releasing significant volumes of terrestrial carbon and undermining climate action efforts. In the Netherlands, restoration initiatives have been ongoing to try recover some of the once-extensive peatlands in the northern regions, where now only small fragments remain. Effective monitoring of these restoration techniques is vital for evaluating their success and informing future applications.

This study investigates the impact of innovative restoration methods, specifically peat inversion, on Sphagnum recovery and Molinea reduction in the Fochteloërveen bog remnant. Utilizing drone surveying combined with Random Forest classification, two sites that underwent peat inversion in 2000 and 2023 were compared with a control site. The classification accuracy reached 88%, effectively distinguishing fine-scale vegetation features. Results indicated that the 2000 inverted site did not have more Sphagnum or less Molinea cover when compared to the control, although biomass density in the 2000 inverted site was higher. The 2023 inverted site predominantly consisted of open water and high levels of dead Molinea due to the recent peat inversion so no conclusive results could be drawn from it. Hydrological data revealed stable water levels in both inverted sites, suggesting ideal conditions for Sphagnum recovery.

Ultimately, this research confirms that the monitoring of bog restoration efforts using drones and modern classification techniques can be accurate and effective. Thus, aiding in the improvement of restoration efforts to give the best opportunity for Sphagnum expansion and the return of peatland dynamics which are central in carbon sequestration and the continued provision of ecosystem services.