Potential emission reduction of greenhouse gases in Frisian peat meadow area: water management and soil management measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Abstract
In Friesland, the total area of peat soils is 58 569 ha, of which 22 197 ha has a thin clay deck and 36 342 without clay deck. Peat soils with a thin clay deck have thickness of a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 40 cm. There is also 14 551 hectares of clay soils with peat within 80 cm (clay on peat). According to the soil classification, these are not peat soils, but have been included in the Veewei revision and therefore in this study. The area of wetlands is 28 894 ha. Boggy soils have a peat layer thinner than 40 cm and are not included in the Veenweidevision and in this study, although they are sensitive to subsidence and contribute to CO2 emissions. The total of peat soils and clay soils with peat in the subsurface is 73 091 ha, of which 52 767 ha in agricultural use. This study focuses specifically on these 52 767 hectares in agricultural use. At 9889 ha, the peat is shallower than 80 cm. The order states that no measures will be taken for these shallow bogs. At least part of this shallow peat is located in water level areas with deeper peat bogs. With a level increase, the level will also be higher for the plots with shallow peat. It has therefore been decided to treat the shallow bogs as a separate category, for which the effects of the measures are calculated, but can subsequently be disregarded wholly or partially by summons.