For five years, the implementation of LIFE OrgBalt project took place in the Baltic States, Finland and Germany, within the framework of which emission measurements were carried out and the possibilities of reducing climate change in nutrients rich organic soils (existing and former peatlands) were demonstrated.
Organic soils are one of the largest contributors to GHG emissions in the agricultural and forestry sectors in the boreal and temperate cool and humid regions of Europe. Organic soils are found on around 33.6 million ha in the European Union (EU), representing around 7% of the total land area of the EU, and their management is associated with ~25% of agricultural and forestry GHG emissions. In these regions, organic soils are usually previously drained peatlands that need to be treated differently from mineral soils to sustain their carbon accumulation and storage capacity. The general aim of the LIFE OrgBalt was to demonstrate how these territories can be managed in a way that is balanced economically, socially, and environmentally.
The main achievements of the project include:
- Development of GHG emission factors: first regional Baltic/Finnish GHG emission factors for managed nutrient-rich organic soils were developed. These emission factors have been submitted for scientific evaluation and further verification so that they can be used in national GHG inventories in the hemiboreal region in Finland and the Baltic States.
- Implementation of climate change mitigation (CPM) measures: sustainable and economically sound CCM measures were implemented in 17 demonstration sites in Latvia and Finland. Forestry CCM measures can be divided into two groups: measures related to afforestation and forest conversion and measures aimed at increasing carbon sequestration in the forest. Agricultural CCM measures include changing the type of crops grown, changing the type of land use and measures related to the control of the hydrological regime.
- Development of innovative tools: Various innovative tools were developed within the Project, including the simulation model as a support tool in policy planning and decision-making, as well as a functional land management model as a support tool for landowners to estimate the benefits and costs of various CCM measures.
Within the Project, not only research and demonstration activities were carried out but also active knowledge exchange and public awareness was ensured. During the Project, seminars and trainings were organised for farmers and foresters, as well as for policy makers. These events fostered collaboration between various stakeholders, including landowners, farmers, foresters, policy makers and scientists, contributing to an in-depth understanding of the interactions between land management, climate change and economic development.
Overall, the LIFE OrgBalt project has made a significant contribution to the knowledge of management of nutrients rich organic soils and climate change mitigation practices. The project results will help policy makers, landowners and other stakeholders to make informed decisions about sustainable land management.
More information about the project activities and results is available on the LIFE OrgBalt project website: www.orgbalt.eu
Project “Demonstration of climate change mitigation potential of nutrient rich organic soils in Baltic States and Finland” (LIFE OrgBalt, LIFE18 CCM/LV/001158) is implemented with financial support from the LIFE Programme of the European Union and State Regional Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia. www.orgbalt.eu
LIFE OrgBalt compiled the first regional Baltic/Finnish GHG emission factors for managed nutrient-rich organic soils (current and former peatlands), which have been made available for the customary scientific review and further verification for national GHG inventories in the hemiboreal region in Finland and the Baltic countries. While the project analysed selected CCM measures for drained organic soils in agriculture and forestry and developed spatial models and tools, it also identified remaining knowledge gaps. To bridge the remaining limitations and fill the gaps, it is essential to continue GHG measurements and model development, as well as to broaden and complete the scope of the evaluated CCM measures in the after-LIFE-project period, notably by including rewetting and restoration of peatlands that are currently considered to be among the most recommended CCM measures on drained peatlands in the EU. In addition, the developed Simulation and PPC models still include limited macroeconomic considerations and lack an assessment of all environmental impacts. For all these reasons, these models should be used carefully in CCM strategy development for the identification of gaps in climate neutrality transition policy and funding frameworks and need further optimization for broader applicability as decision-making tools.
The information reflects only the LIFE OrgBalt project beneficiaries view and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.
