Peatlands are ecosystems in which biological, chemical and physical processes are intimately interlinked drivers of greenhouse gas fluxes. Drained peatlands are hotspots of anthropogenic greenhouse gases. Recent national and international research projects have accumulated a wealth of new observational data, improved process understanding and new tools for empirical and process-based regionalization. The special issue aims to collect papers with a focus on understanding the human impact on the peatland carbon and greenhouse gas balance. Studies include experimental manipulations, gradient studies along land-use changes and management intensity, and studies of short-term and long-term dynamics of peatland restoration.

The special issue is solicited by the collaborative project "Organic soils" supported by the Thünen Institute and the European research project GHG-Europe – "Greenhouse gas management in European land use systems" supported by the European Commission in the 7th Framework Programme (grant agreement no. 244122). The special issue is open to for all submissions within the scope of the special issue.