Spatial potential for paludicultures to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions

an analytic tool

authored by

Anna Schlattmann, Michael Rode

Abstract

Following the recent international agreements on climate action, there is an urgent need to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Wet cultivation of peatlands (paludiculture) can combine low GHG emissions with productive use of the land, but methods for identifying suitable areas at regional and local scales are lacking. In this study we present a spatial assessment tool for two paludiculture species, namely Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia. This tool is built in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and is designed to perform a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the cultivation potential of land that is currently used for agriculture or peat extraction, within a defined geographical area. It uses a graded assessment process with a plot based analysis. A case study application shows that the tool can deliver first estimates of the potential cultivation area, but further research is needed to enhance its flexibility and scope of application. In its present form it may be used as a decision support instrument for specific sites.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Environmental Planning

Type

Article

Journal

Mires and Peat

Volume

25

Pages

1-14

ISSN

1819-754X

Publication date

2019

Publication status

Published

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Aquatic Science, Ecology, Soil Science, Nature and Landscape Conservation

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 - Climate Action

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.19189/MaP.2017.OMB.324 (Access: Open)