Peatlands as water purifiers – Promoting soil rewetting on private land
Soil rewetting is an effective way to improve the condition of peatlands that have been damaged by drainage. The project aims to increase awareness and accelerate the wider adoption of soil rewetting on private land in Northern Ostrobothnia.
More information:
Riikka Heikkilä
Project Manager
Iin Micropolis Oy
riikka.heikkila@micropolis.fi
+358 50 513 3240
Soil rewetting, i.e. directing runoff water to dried peatlands, is a cost-effective method for improving water protection and peatland environments in forestry.
Restoration of natural soil moisture conditions has been added to the 2022 national forest management recommendations and is one possible means of implementing the objectives of the EU’s Nature Restoration Regulation. Soil rewetting also has great potential because it does not prevent forestry, as it does not cause waterlogging damage to the surrounding forests.
In Northern Ostrobothnia, there are hundreds of thousands of hectares of drained and dried-up peatlands that are unsuitable for forestry, to which runoff water can be directed to flow over. The peatlands retain solids and nutrients from the drainage areas, preventing them from ending up in water bodies and the habitats of migratory fish.
The challenge is that the method is not yet widely known, and planning rewetting requires expertise. At the same time, there is less and less advice available to forest owners. However, there is a great need for effective water protection solutions, as the peatland forests in the area are reaching their final felling age. Removing trees, tilling the soil, and clearing ditches increase runoff from peatlands and pose a risk to waterways that are already burdened.
The method will be implemented more widely
The primary objective of the project is to gather information and increase understanding of the challenges involved in implementing soil rewetting measures, as well as to improve the ability of forestry professionals to plan and implement soil rewetting measures in Northern Ostrobothnia, particularly in the Iijoki river basin. The idea is that, through expertise and practical experience, soil rewetting will become more common and established as part of the range of water protection and biodiversity measures in forestry in the aapa fen zone.
The project also aims to raise general awareness and interest in restoration of natural soil moisture conditions and to identify potential areas for development.
Landowners and planners involved
The project involves interviewing stakeholders and gathering information on bottlenecks in soil rewetting. Soil rewetting sites that are significant in terms of water protection and biodiversity benefits are selected from the Iijoki river basin, and their implementation is discussed with landowners. The interest of municipalities, joint forest owners and companies in soil rewetting is being investigated. Implementation plans will be drawn up for two locations. The results, such as the forest owner’s roadmap for soil rewetting, will be communicated through networks, and a training day will be organised for forestry professionals.
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development funds the project.
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