Category FAQs Search : Ecosystem
Question: Peatlands in ecosystem services
Answer: Peatland ecosystem services are the benefits that people obtain from peatland.
Kimmel and Mander (2010) offered a summary of peatland ecosystem services and examples of relevant beneficial functions adapted from the Millennium ecosystem assessment (2005) and Joosten and Clarke (2002):
Provisioning services
Fibre and fuel (peat, plant) – are used for horticulture, agriculture, domestic heating and energy generation; raw material for industry, energy generation and medicine;
Food – wild plants and wild or domesticated animals are used as a food for people and domestic animals as well; medicine
Fresh water – public water supply is obtained from reservoirs draining peatlands
Peat substrate – land space for agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
Regulating services
Climate regulation (in global, regional, local scales) – regulation of greenhouse gases (climate change mitigation) and other climatic processes (precipitation, air temperatures,etc.)
Water regulation – water storage, groundwater recharge and discharge
Water purification and waste treatment (regulation of catchment hydrochemistry) – retention, recovery and removal of excess nutrients and pollutants
Erosion protection (regulation of soil conditions) – peat blanket protecting the underlying soils from erosion.
Cultural services
Recreational and aesthetic – space for recreation and tourism; appreciation of nature;
Spiritual and inspirational – personal feelings and well-being; religious significance;
Educational – opportunities for education, training and research
Supporting services:
Biodiversity – unique habitats for unique species;
Soil formation – accumulation of organic matter;
Nutrient cycling – storage, recycling, processing and acquisition of nutrients.
(Source: International Peatland Society, 02 Feb 2021)
Source Link: https://peatlands.org/peatlands/ecosystem-services/