Soiden ennallistamisen maastoekskursio Pallakselle 1.-3.7.2024
From July 1-3, 2024 the LIFE PeatCarbon project team in total 14 members had a unique possibility to participate in the peatland restoration work carried out in Pallas region in Lapland where the two project sites - Matorova Mire and Välisuo Mire are located. The trip was hosted by the research team from Natural Resources Institute (LUKE) in Finland (Dr. Jenni Hultman and Dr. Päivi Mäkiranta), Finnish Meteorological Institute (Professor Annalea Lohila and Jack Chapman) and University of Oulu (Dr. Anna Autio). From University of Latvia participated the project manager Dr. Māra Pakalne and national coordinator Pēteris Āboliņš, Aija Vanaga and Elīna Konstantīnova from “Baltic coasts”, Agne Šusta and Gints Šusts from LTD. “AGS systems”.
Already at the first evening there were lots of discussions on the restoration status of project sites in Pallas and Latvia. In Finland restoration in the project sites is carried out by Metsähallitus, but beforehand all the work process was discussed with Jenni Hultman from LUKE, together with representative from Metsahällitus, Minna Lalli. The status of restoration work was checked beforehand. The tree logging had been finished and the excavator was already at the project sites ready to start the building of dams.
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Firstly, Välisuo peat forest at the Pallas Atmosphere-Ecosystem Supersite was visited. Together with Metsähallitus representative Minna Lalli greenhouse gas measurement sites were checked and the restoration process observed. There was lot of discussion on the restoration actions, rationale for them and possible differences between sites in Finland and Latvia. Dr. Anna Autio from University of Oulu showed the hydrology measurement devices and explained the different measurement strategies used. She also described the movement of the surface and ground water and how the restoration actions will be affecting these.
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Jenni Hultman from LUKE explained the setup of monitoring plots along the boardwalks. The greenhouse gas (GHG) and microbiology measurements, as well as vegetation surveys, are conducted in the same plots. In Finland GHG gases, like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are measured every two weeks during snow free period and once a month during snow season. Samples for microbial activity and processes were collected before restoration, right after restoration and next set will be taken in 2026.
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Matorova Mire with the Eddy covariance tower was the second site to visit. The differences between drained and more pristine areas could be easily seen from the boardwalks. Jack Chapman from FMI described us the research within the recently built EC tower measuring the greenhouse gases in the LIFE PeatCarbon study sites. During the visit the group also visited other research sites and measurements stations Pallas ecosystem supersite with Annalea Lohila. These included Lompolojänkä Peatland sites which is an ICOS Ecosystem station, Kenttärova, ICOS associated ecosystem station and ICOS station Sammaltunturi.
At the end of July 2024 over 100 dams were already built and the water table has clearly risen. The logging residue deposited to the blocked ditches will slowly start degrading.
The first after restoration measurements are started and will be continued to follow the effect on hydrology, greenhouse gas emissions, vegetation and microbial metabolic processes. It was also possible to observe cloudberries ripe and delicious during the excursion which is the symbol of the project.
