PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The numerous peatbogs of the Jura massif have undergone a large amount of disturbance over the centuries (drainage, peat extraction, etc.), which has ultimately led to a lowering of the underlying water tables. As a result, these wetland ecosystems have stopped acting as carbon sinks, to become sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to climate change. The peatbogs targeted by this project are nowadays subject to relatively little economic exploitation, mainly agriculture – for those located at the bottom of valleys or on slopes - and forestry. The project area currently under agricultural use is estimated at about 15% of the total, whereas the areas under forestry management do not exceed 5%. The remaining 80% have no direct economic purpose, except for tourism and recreational activities such as hunting and fishing.
OBJECTIVES
The overarching objective of the LIFE RestituO project is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from the degradation of peat bogs in the Jura region of France. The GHG reduction objective ranges from 5.03 to 31.40 teqCO2/ha/year, depending on the initial state of degradation of the rehabilitated peatland. To this aim, a consortium of five organisations has been created to carry out hydrological restoration works on 70 degraded sites within the Doubs and Jura areas, including drain blocking, revegetation of extraction pits, stream restoration, and other nature-based solutions.
The project’s area of implementation will spread over 492 ha, including 70 peatbogs of which 47 are part of the Natura 2000 network within 15 Sites of Community Importance (SCIs).In addition, the project will contribute to the restoration of 8 habitat types of the EU Habitats Directive (including 2 priority habitats). The restoration of these habitats will also benefit at least 13 species listed in the Annexes of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive.
RESULTS
Expected results:
- Nature-based solutions designed and implemented, to deliver long-lasting effects on the impacted peatbog systems, allowing them to increase their resilience to climate change and improve the ecosystem services they provide.
- The peatbog restoration interventions will be complemented by an array of communication and awareness-raising actions, to initiate a change in the behaviour of the general public, landowners, elected officials, youth and other stakeholders (public meetings, educational events, newsletters, etc.).
- Land management initiatives carried out, to ensure the long-term preservation of the sites.
- Continuous monitoring activities that assess the project's impact, primarily in terms of GHG reductions.
- A transfer of knowledge, in the form of conferences, training courses, management guidelines, etc., will encourage the replication of project actions at the national and European levels.
