Reforestation event at Torbiere del Sebino: plant a tree in a Nature Reserve on Lake Iseo

What are peatlands and why are they at risk?

Peatlands are wetlands, such as lakes and swamps, that capture large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. They form in two instances: when a bog becomes silted up and in which new vegetation grows When a dry area already rich in trees and plants is flooded.

In both cases, at the beginning there is a layer of water at the bottom of which organic matter is deposited that comes from algae and mosses. Due to the lack of oxygen and acidity typical of standing water, bacteria cannot reproduce, so the plant remains do not decompose, but accumulate until they touch the surface of the water. These carbon-rich plant layers that accumulate over time are called peat, which is why the environment is called a peatland. 

If the ecosystem is altered, the large amount of carbon stored within the peatlands is released. The positive effect of these ecosystems is then reversed, causing emissions to be released. 

What are the threats to peatlands? Deforestation and drainage are the main causes of peatland degradation, added to drought due to the climate crisis.