Hydrology LIFE - conservation of peatlands and small water bodies in Finland

Abstract

Wetlands are biodiversity hotspots and provide many globally important ecosystem services, such as carbon storage and control of water circulation. However, they are badly degraded by human land-use and are, therefore, among most threatened habitats in Europe, for instance. A 20-year experience on wetland restoration in Finland will now be utilized in Hydrology LIFE project, that safeguards peatlands, small water bodies and important bird lakes in 103 Finnish Natura 2000 areas. Majority of peatlands around the globe are severely degraded by human land-use. The major cause for degradation in Finland is forestry-drainage, including also areas within N2000 sites. The blocking of ditches and removal of trees on 5200 hectares in and around 95 N2000 sites recovers the wet and open habitats crucial for many valuable species. The measures also restore peatland’s ability to store water, nutrients and carbon. New methods for simultaneously improving biodiversity conservation and water protection are developed in the project running 2017-2023. Dredging, channelization and drainage are widely decreasing the ability of streams and ponds to sustain their natural communities and control the circulation of water. We restore 34 km of degraded streams and raise water table in 17 ponds to recover their natural hydrological functioning, and to regain target species. The open water areas as well as mosaics of water and vegetation, that are important as bird nesting and breeding habitat, are decreasing in many lakes in Finland due to overgrowth by vegetation and nutrient loading from the surroundings. We create open water areas and increase the mosaic structure of habitats e.g. by dredging and raising the water table to improve the habitat quality on four especially important bird lakes. The project funded 60% by European Commission LIFE funding focuses mainly in practical restoration. However, we collect and analyse globally significant data-sets to better understand how restoration can be used to preserve biodiversity, to improve water quality and to slow down climate change. Lack of such long-term and well-replicated studies is one of the biggest challenges in reaching the huge global targets for wetland restoration, and for many other ecosystems. The information gained by examining how local people and the recreational users of protected areas feel about restoration can be used to develop restoration measures. Wide range of field inventories on several species groups will be done in the project to support restoration. Successful conservation requires better public understanding on the wide range of wetland values. We raise public awareness by developing effective and innovative communication methods, such as a wetland simulator and material for teachers and nature centres.