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Valuing water quality improvements from peatland restoration: Evidence and challenges

Valuing water quality improvements from peatland restoration: Evidence and challenges
Valuing water quality improvements from peatland restoration: Evidence and challenges
There is evidence that damaged peatlands can negatively affect the delivery of water related ecosystem services. There is interest in peatland restoration to meet different regulatory targets, including the Water Framework Directive (WFD). A comprehensive assessment of the economic benefits of restoration is missing. This paper synthesises hydrological and bio-geochemical knowledge on peatland restoration, as well as insights in the monetary valuation of water quality improvements in freshwater systems. This is used to identify challenges in valuing water quality related benefits from peatland restoration. The paper concludes that there is strong evidence for rapid ecological responses to peatland restoration related to reduced suspended sediment loads, and sufficient evidence that re-wetting will prevent further decline in water quality. Two main challenges arise for valuation: (1) incomplete evidence of effects of restoration on final ecosystem services and benefits, and (2) the spatial and temporal differences in peatlands’ responses. We suggest developing valuation scenarios on a case-by-case basis, using best available evidence of the changes associated with restoration described by a categorization of peatland status similar to the ecological status ladders developed for the WFD. These would need to be tested with the public and should include an element of uncertainty in services provision.
non-market values, blanket raised bogs, ecosystem services, water framework directive
2212-0416
1-10
Martin-Ortega, Julia
fe2e9624-b269-426c-acc6-f2cdfdc18ea2
Allott, Timothy E.H.
0a4a0541-b8a8-4b37-b4e6-90fb793b2581
Glenk, Klaus
41630b35-c0a2-4518-8d2e-2db0754eff12
Schaafsma, Marije
937ac629-0fa2-4a11-bdf7-c3688405467d
Martin-Ortega, Julia
fe2e9624-b269-426c-acc6-f2cdfdc18ea2
Allott, Timothy E.H.
0a4a0541-b8a8-4b37-b4e6-90fb793b2581
Glenk, Klaus
41630b35-c0a2-4518-8d2e-2db0754eff12
Schaafsma, Marije
937ac629-0fa2-4a11-bdf7-c3688405467d

Martin-Ortega, Julia, Allott, Timothy E.H., Glenk, Klaus and Schaafsma, Marije (2014) Valuing water quality improvements from peatland restoration: Evidence and challenges. Ecosystem Services, 1-10. (doi:10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.06.007).

Record type: Article

Abstract

There is evidence that damaged peatlands can negatively affect the delivery of water related ecosystem services. There is interest in peatland restoration to meet different regulatory targets, including the Water Framework Directive (WFD). A comprehensive assessment of the economic benefits of restoration is missing. This paper synthesises hydrological and bio-geochemical knowledge on peatland restoration, as well as insights in the monetary valuation of water quality improvements in freshwater systems. This is used to identify challenges in valuing water quality related benefits from peatland restoration. The paper concludes that there is strong evidence for rapid ecological responses to peatland restoration related to reduced suspended sediment loads, and sufficient evidence that re-wetting will prevent further decline in water quality. Two main challenges arise for valuation: (1) incomplete evidence of effects of restoration on final ecosystem services and benefits, and (2) the spatial and temporal differences in peatlands’ responses. We suggest developing valuation scenarios on a case-by-case basis, using best available evidence of the changes associated with restoration described by a categorization of peatland status similar to the ecological status ladders developed for the WFD. These would need to be tested with the public and should include an element of uncertainty in services provision.

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More information

Published date: 8 August 2014
Keywords: non-market values, blanket raised bogs, ecosystem services, water framework directive
Organisations: Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Geography & Environment

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 368354
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/368354
ISSN: 2212-0416
PURE UUID: d813f467-c0fd-4dee-af4f-5e0b010c812a
ORCID for Marije Schaafsma: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0878-069X

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 12 Sep 2014 11:13
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:51

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Contributors

Author: Julia Martin-Ortega
Author: Timothy E.H. Allott
Author: Klaus Glenk

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