What is Peat Pals for LIFE about?

In the EU project Peat Pals for LIFE, Natuurmonumenten, together with Natuurpunt, Wageningen University and Eurosite, is committed to improving peat ecosystems in the Netherlands and Flanders. On one hand , volunteers, local residents, landowners, experts and nature managers will join forces to improve the local hydrology by a.o. decreasing pilot site drainage. On the other hand, academic professionals from Wageningen University will measure carbon and greenhouse gas dynamics, using different methods depending on pilot site size. An Eddy Covariance flux tower will be used in Fochteloërveen to determine greenhouse dynamics on a larger scale, whereas the Greenhouse gas Emission Site Type (GEST) method will estimate local carbon and methane dynamics in the Veewei and the Valleys of Abeek and Dommel. 

The Peat Pals project will allow the partners to develop insights, experiences and lessons learned about improving hydrological and abiotic conditions for peatland restoration and the impact of restoration activities on reducing CO2 emissions. Collaboration officially started in Veenhuizen at the beginning of October 2023 in the attendance of representatives for the partner organisations as well as the provinces of Friesland and Drenth. 

Objectives

With Peat Pals, our main focus is to improve the condition of peatland-associated habitats (H7110*, H7120, H7140, H6410, H3150) and their inhabiting species that are currently in an unfavourable status within the Dutch and Flemish Natura 2000 network. Collaborating with a variety of stakeholders (e.g. farmers, municipalities, volunteers etc.), numerous degraded and carbon-rich peat ecosystems are being restored in the Netherlands and Flanders. By doing so, we want to create more robust peat ecosystems in the Fochteloërveen (Netherlands) and the Valley of the Abeek, Dommeldal and the Veewei (Flanders).