Impact of forest-to-bog restoration on peat hydrology

Start date: 1 January 2016
End date: 31 December 2020
Funder: Forest Research
Value: £40,000
Primary investigator: Professor Joseph Holden
Co-investigators: Professor Pippa Chapman

This project aims to fill important knowledge gaps in quantifying differences in the hydrology and hydrochemistry between pristine, afforested and restored-formerly-afforested peatlands to assess the water regulatory ecosystem services they deliver. It is important to establish the implications for flood risk, drinking water provisions and water quality that may affect aquatic biota. Jointly funded by Forest Research and the University of Leeds, the study will expand on current monitoring of surface water quality at restoration sites in Scotland, by providing new information on the porewater chemistry, runoff and the physical and chemical properties of the peat for the different land uses.