FORPEAT: FORest PEATtland ecosystem assessment and targeted management for enhanced carbon sequestration, biodiversity and water quality

Forested peatlands are vital ecosystems, and their effective management is crucial for both climate action and biodiversity. The ForPeat project is an ambitious research initiative that advances science-based approaches to optimize the stewardship of these critical environments.

 

At its core, the project’s work unfolds through three key activities. First, it runs a series of Open Labs that demonstrate innovative and sustainable practices, such as rewetting and water conservation techniques, showing how to balance climate positivity with biodiversity enhancement. Second, ForPeat conducts a comprehensive analysis of how different management strategies and forest harvesting impact crucial functions like carbon sequestration, nutrient cycles, water quality, and biodiversity. Finally, the project integrates advanced technologies like AI, robotics, and remote sensing to elevate the precision of its environmental monitoring.

 

This entire effort is built on a foundation of collaboration. ForPeat employs a multi-actor approach, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders—including landowners, foresters, scientists, public authorities, and industry representatives—to ensure all relevant voices are considered throughout the project’s lifecycle.

 

The insights gained from this work provide crucial indicators and baselines for maximizing climate change mitigation and conservation. The project actively explores how to replicate and scale up successful practices, with a focus on developing viable financial incentives under EU certification frameworks. Ultimately, this research translates into practical recommendations for policymakers and land managers, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient future for Europe’s forested peatlands.

Our main tasks

• Project Coordination and day-to-day management activities
• Financial and administrative management
• Ethic issues and data management
• integrate all metadata from Open Lab monitoring (water, soil, air data, species, biodiversity, etc.) into a database accessible to all partners
• Economic assessment of the management of forest peatlands
• Integrated multi-objective optimization and decision support for sustainable forest peatland management
• Replication assessment
• Multi-Actor Open Days

Partners

IDENER.AI | LUONNONVARAKESKUS | | AARHUS UNIVERSITET | TARTU ULIKOOL | BOKU UNIVERSITY | KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN | STICHTING WAGENINGEN RESEARCH | WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY | KNEIA | REMOTE SENSING SOLUTIONS | FICLIMA | TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ROSENHEIM | LIBERA UNIVERSITÀ DI BOLZANO | ITA-SUOMEN YLIOPISTO | SRUC | UNIVERSIDADE DE EVORA | STROMING | SCIENCE FOR CHANGE | SZKOLA GLOWNA GOSPODARSTWA WIEJSKIEGO | UPPSALA UNIVERSITET | NORSK INSTITUTT FOR NATURFORSKNING | EIDG. FORSCHUNGSANSTALT

Start date – finish date

10 / 2025 - 09 / 2029