Multi-purpose forests on peatland

Abstract

Current forestry policy has multiple objectives including wood production, nature conservation, landscape, recreation and environment protection. There are about 190 000 ha of planted forest on deep peat and another 315 000 ha on shallower peat. Deep peat covers just over 2 million ha in Britain, so the area planted is some 9.5%. The paper describes how modern silvicultural practices are designed to achieve these multiple benefits of forests on peatland.

The management and restoration of damaged blanket bog in the north of Scotland

“…Within afforested areas, drainage results in a lowering of the water table ranging from 10-50 cm (depending on time of year) below the surface (Pyatt et al, 1992). Typically, the effect is visible (measurable) up to 20-40 m beyond the edge of forest blocks (Pyatt et al, 1992;Pyatt, 1993;Anderson, Pyatt & White, 1995;Shotbolt, Anderson & Townend, 1998). Forestry furrows are known to dry out the underlying peat with the result that the peat begins to shrink and cracksometimes to a depth of 1 m (Pyatt et al, 1992;Pyatt, 1993;Anderson, Pyatt & White, 1995).…”

“…Typically, the effect is visible (measurable) up to 20-40 m beyond the edge of forest blocks (Pyatt et al, 1992;Pyatt, 1993;Anderson, Pyatt & White, 1995;Shotbolt, Anderson & Townend, 1998). Forestry furrows are known to dry out the underlying peat with the result that the peat begins to shrink and cracksometimes to a depth of 1 m (Pyatt et al, 1992;Pyatt, 1993;Anderson, Pyatt & White, 1995). Considerable lateral cracking is also known to occur with peat drying out up to 2 m from the edge of the drains and furrows.…”

Afforestation of low-productive peatlands in Sweden – a tree species comparison

“…Sitka spruce and lodgepole pine have been planted on large areas in Ireland and Scotland for the afforestation of open peatlands (McCarthy andKeogh 1984, Farrell 1990), often using lodgepole pine as a nurse tree to sitka spruce (Taylor 1985, Pyatt 1990.…”