C1 – FILLING KNOWLEDGE GAPS ABOUT GHG EMISSIONS FROM NUTRIENT-RICH ORGANIC SOILS
Filling knowledge gaps about GHG emissions from nutrient-rich drained organic soils by elaboration and verification of GHG emission factors and activity data in cropland, grassland and forest land, and evaluation of the impact of scientifically approved climate change mitigation measures in the management of nutrient-rich organic soils;
About GHG emission measurements
In the documentary below GHG emission measurements are demonstrated. These measurement methods were used by LIFE REstore project “Sustainable and responsible management and re-use of degraded peatlands in Latvia” (LIFE REstore, LIFE14 CCM/LV/001103, 2015-2019) measuring GHG emissions from nutrient-poor organic soils. These methods will be improved and employed within LIFE OrgBalt project for measuring GHG emissions from nutrient-rich organic soils thus ensuring knowledge transfer to LIFE OrgBalt and continuity of scientific research.
Documentary text in English:
Within LIFE REstore project greenhouse gas emissions were measured from differently managed peatlands in Latvia. This will ensure responsible management of organic soils from a climate point of view, and it is also necessary for the elaboration of greenhouse gas emission factors consistent with local conditions and specifics of economic activity, according to which Latvia could annually calculate and report greenhouse gas emissions in the national greenhouse gas inventory report prepared by countries under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Over the course of two years, LIFE REstore project measured greenhouse gas emissions in 41 locations in Latvia, using the closed chamber method, determining the changes of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide concentrations in the air.
Samples were collected once a month, in various sites on organic soils – in peat harvesting sites, in post-harvested peatlands with or without plant cover, in croplands after the cultivation of cereals or legumes, in perennial grasslands, in conifer and deciduous woodlands, berry plantations and reedbeds.
Ainārs Lupiķis, the expert of LIFE REstore, SILAVA: “In the LIFE REstore project we study 13 different types of land use. Eventually we will know the amounts of greenhouse gas emissions from each land use type. The Paris Agreement says that in the second half of this century emission neutrality must be achieved in all economy sectors, which means that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions should not exceed removals.”
In the LIFE REstore project, greenhouse gas emissions were measured by the Estonian company Severitas and the University of Tartu in cooperation with the Latvian State Forest Research Institute Silava. The gas samples collected in Latvia were transported to the University of Tartu, where the most important greenhouse gases were determined in the laboratory.
More information: restore.daba.gov.lv