Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Forest‐to‐Bog Restoration on Carbon Sequestration, Water Chemistry, and Biodiversity in Irish and British Peatlands
2025-08-16
Globally, 3%–4% of the peatland area has been drained for forestry, and in temperate oceanic regions, treeless bogs were historically converted to non‐native forest plantations. This has caused carbon‐rich peat oxidation, heightened fire risk, and water and biodiversity degradation. Restoration to open‐treeless bog through clear‐felling and re‐wetting (forest‐to‐bog) aims to reverse forestry impacts and restore biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and water quality functions. However, a comprehensive evaluation of its effectiveness and timelines is lacking. This review systematically synthesizes restoration outcomes in temperate oceanic peatlands, revealing mixed success over a multi‐decadal scale. Despite a global search, findings were geographically limited to the Irish and British Isles. Post restoration, onsite land‐atmosphere greenhouse gas (GHG) net flux approaches net‐zero within 11–13 ± 2 years (75% CI), largely driven by water table and vegetation recovery. Water chemistry initially deviates due to nutrient and trace metal release after clear‐felling but shows positive trajectories after 4–10 years; full recovery of dissolved organic carbon, ammonium nitrogen, and zinc may exceed two decades. Water table recovery occurs within 6–10 years, but full stabilization may require 20+ years. Faunal recovery, though slower, reflects trophic and habitat dependencies, significantly recovering after a decade. Legacy effects, such as harvest residue, microtopographies, and initial peatland conditions hinder restoration. Innovative methods, including surface terraforming and whole‐tree removal, promise accelerated recovery. Knowledge gaps include limited availability of long‐term GHG data, forestry full life cycle assessments, and fluvial carbon monitoring. Sustained investment, standardized monitoring protocols, and policy support are required to enhance restoration outcomes. This article is categorized under: Climate, Ecology, and Conservation > Conservation Strategies The Carbon Economy and Climate Mitigation > Benefits of Mitigation Trans‐disciplinary Perspectives > Regional Reviews