What Works in Conservation 2020
| , , ,6. Peatland conservation
6.13 Habitat protection
Texte intégral
Likely to be beneficial
Legally protect peatlands
1• Peatland habitat: Two studies in Indonesia reported that peat swamp forest was lost from within the boundaries of national parks. However, one of these studies reported that forest loss was greater outside the national park. One before-and-after study in China reported that peatland area initially decreased following legal protection, but increased in the longer term.
2• Plant community composition: One before-and-after study in a bog in Denmark reported that the plant community composition changed over 161 years of protection. Woody plants became more abundant.
3• Vegetation cover: One site comparison study in Chile found that protected peatland had greater vegetation cover (total, herbs and shrubs) than adjacent grazed and moss-harvested peatland.
4• Overall plant richness/diversity: One before-and-after study in Denmark reported that the number of plant species in a protected bog fluctuated over time, with no clear trend. One site comparison study in Chile found that protected peatland had lower plant richness and diversity, but also fewer non-native species, than adjacent grazed and harvested peatland.
5• Assessment: likely to be beneficial (effectiveness 60 %; certainty 40 %; harms 1 %). Based on evidence from: tropical peat swamps (two studies); bogs (one study); unspecified peatlands (two studies).
6https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/1796
Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Pay landowners to protect peatlands
7• Peatland habitat: One review reported that agri-environment schemes in the UK had mixed effects on bogs, protecting the area of bog habitat in three of six cases.
8• Assessment: unknown effectiveness – limited evidence (effectiveness 50 %; certainty 20 %; harms 10 %). Based on evidence from: bogs (one study).
9https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/1799
Increase ‘on the ground’ protection (e.g. rangers)
10• Behaviour change: One before-and-after study in a peat swamp forest in Indonesia reported that the number of illegal sawmills decreased over two years of anti-logging patrols.
11• Assessment: unknown effectiveness – limited evidence (effectiveness 60 %; certainty 20 %; harms 0 %). Based on evidence from: tropical peat swamps (one study).
12https://www.conservationevidence.com/actions/1800
No evidence found (no assessment)
13We have captured no evidence for the following interventions:
- Create legislation for ‘no net loss’ of wetlands
- Adopt voluntary agreements to protect peatlands
- Allow sustainable use of peatlands.
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