Management of Peat Soils and Peatland Landscapes: A Balancing Act Between Conservation and Agricultural Production

14 novembre 2024

Prof Edward Mitchell, University of Neuchâtel Camille Voegeli, University of Neuchâtel Robin Calisti, University of Neuchât

• Dr. Elena Havlicek, Federal Office of the Environment
• Prof Bruno Lanz, professor of applied economics, UniNe
• Dr. Philippe Grosvernier, Ecologist
• Prof Hans Joosten, professor of peatland studies and palaeoecology, Greifswald (Germany)
• Camille Voegeli, PhD candidate, Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, UniNE
• Robin Calisti, PhD candidate, Laboratory of Soil Biodiversity, UniNE
• Alex Kobayashi, PhD candidate, CHYN, UniNE

Peatlands are among Switzerland's most endangered ecosystems, with around 90% of their original surfaces already lost-primarily converted to agricultural land. This loss poses serious challenges, not only for biodiversity but also for climate change mitigation. Peat soils, when drained for farming, release significant amounts of CO2, resulting in a loss of 1-3cm of peat per year, making the preservation of carbon stocks and current agricultural practices incompatible. Paludiculture could be an alternative to both maintain C stock and allow agricultural production but is not yet developed in Switzerland.

Additionally, nearly all remaining peatlands are under threat from human activities, mainly drainage and nutrient input from nearby agriculture. To make matters worse, climate change and drought are accelerating the decline of these unique ecosystems and their vital carbon stores. Hydrological restoration has been very successful at some sites and help keep the remaining near-intact surfaces wet while allowing typical peatland vegetation and fauna to recolonise previously drained surfaces. Further hydrological restoration may however increasingly impact adjacent agricultural surface, requiring concerted planification to balance the respective needs of nature conservation and agriculture.

This workshop will delve into these pressing challenges, with invited speakers covering aspects of administration, agronomy and ecology of organic soil use and management. The workshop will be composed of a mix of lectures and discussions.

08:45 Registration

09:00-09:45 Welcome and introduction

Introduction to peatlands and the challenges of peatlands conservation (Camille Vögeli & Edward Mitchell)

09:45-10:45 Spatial modelling at landscape scale to improve peatlands conservation and restoration (Philippe Grosvernier)

10:45-11:00 Coffee Break (EatEco)

11:00-12:00 Economic aspects of peatland conservation (Benjamin Ignoto)

12:00-13:00 Lunch Break (EatEco)

13:00-14:00 Political aspect of organic soils conservation (Elena Havlicek)

14:00-15:00 Monitoring peat soils and natural peatlands: the importance of greenhouse gaz fluxes (Robin Calisti & Alex Kobayashi)

15:00-15:15 Coffee break (EatEco)

15:15-16:15 TBD (Alex Aebi)

16:15-17:00 Organic soil conservation across the globe (Hans Joosten)

17:00 Closing statements (Camille Vögeli)

Neuchâtel (Room A317)

Registration close

Deadline: 07.11.2024

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