The twinning has the following objectives:

Experience what a raised bog looks like when it is not damaged by peat harvesting and high nitrogen depositions;
Exchange experiences about communication with visitors on nature (conservation), visitors center and other recreational facilities.
Exchange knowledge about conservation actions and regeneration of peat bogs after measures have been taken;
Exchange knowledge about chances for climate mitigation and adaptation in raised bog areas;
Exchange knowledge about grazing sites with large herbivores, like water buffalos, Galloway, Scottish Highlander and Exmoor ponies;
Exchange knowledge about the management of invasive species, additional management to reduce grasses and scrubs and the hydrology of peat bogs;
Exchange knowledge about monitoring and research; for example monitoring plans and research agendas;

Between 16 and 20 September 2024, the Peat Pals for LIFE project partners (Natuurmonumenten, Natuurpunt, Wageningen University & Research and Eurosite) visited the Store Mosse National Park in Sweden. Altogether, 17 colleagues participated in this twinning initiative which was organised by Natuurmonumenten with the support of Eurosite. Before this exchange, one of the ecologists working on the Dutch Fochteloërveen area has visited Store Mosse in 2022 to explore possibilities for exchange experiences.

The Fochteloërveen management team of Natuurmonumenten looks back on an informative week in Store Mosse: “We saw how a drained and excavated raised bog recovers after rewetting, without an excess of nitrogen. Likewise, we were able to experience a raised bog landscape with various raised bog cores, former lakes and stream valleys. There was also a valuable exchange in the field of education and communication. Walking on peat with snowshoes on was a completely new experience for us! We are going to investigate how we can introduce the public to this in the Fochteloërveen. In the Naturum visitor centre, we could get some insights into the structure of its exhibits. We saw raised bog below ground level in a very attractive animated film, and even loads of information about climate change. In summary, this visit has given us a broad view of the functioning of a raised bog and how to communicate about this topic.”

#Netherlands

Peat Pals Project kick-off in the Netherlands