Articles | Volume 20, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2387-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-2387-2023
Research article
 | 
22 Jun 2023
Research article |  | 22 Jun 2023

Water-table-driven greenhouse gas emission estimates guide peatland restoration at national scale

Julian Koch, Lars Elsgaard, Mogens H. Greve, Steen Gyldenkærne, Cecilie Hermansen, Gregor Levin, Shubiao Wu, and Simon Stisen

Data sets

Water table depth for Danish lowland soils Julian Koch https://doi.org/10.22008/FK2/0AFGQT

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Short summary
Utilizing peatlands for agriculture leads to large emissions of greenhouse gases worldwide. The emissions are triggered by lowering the water table, which is a necessary step in order to make peatlands arable. Many countries aim at reducing their emissions by restoring peatlands, which can be achieved by stopping agricultural activities and thereby raising the water table. We estimate a total emission of 2.6 Mt CO2-eq for organic-rich peatlands in Denmark and a potential reduction of 77 %.
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