Monitoring the pilot sites on GHG fluxes: a state of play from UK
In Care-Peat we are monitoring the pilot sites on GHG fluxes. After a full year of GHG measurements and empirical data modelling at the UK sites, we like to share some first results.
At our pioneering Winmarleigh Carbon Farm the annual carbon GHG budget is an emission of 3.35 tCO2e/ha/yr compared to an emission of 22.73 tCO2e/ha/yr from the neighbouring grazed pasture. Meaning that just by re-wetting the peat we have seen a 90% reduction in CO2e emissions, and we expect the site to become a carbon sink as soon as full vegetation cover is achieved. Fluxes of N2O or aquatic CO2 and CH4 fluxes from ditches have not yet been fully accounted for, although early measurements suggest these fluxes are likely to be small.
At the former peat-milled companion planting pilot on Little Woolden Moss, there has been rapid establishment of vegetation with almost 50% cover in the first year. This vigorously-growing plant material has also resulted in an annual carbon GHG uptake of 33.25 tCO2e/ha/yr using empirical data modelling. Work is ongoing with new GHG monitoring collars in stands of mature vegetation to monitor change in the post-establishment phase.
Find out more on the GHG monitoring in our reports about the transnational monitoring protocol and the installation of monitoring instruments.