Action

Restore/create peatland vegetation using the moss layer transfer technique

How is the evidence assessed?
  • Effectiveness
    70%
  • Certainty
    60%
  • Harms
    1%

Study locations

Key messages

  • Four studies evaluated the effects, on peatland vegetation, of restoration using the moss layer transfer technique (as defined in the Background section). All four studies were based on bogs in Canada. Three studies were based on one experimental set-up that was included in the other, larger study.
  • Plant community composition (2 studies): One replicated study in bogs in Canada reported that the majority of restored areas developed a community of bog-characteristic plant species within 11 years. One controlled, before-and-after study in a bog in Canada reported that a restored area (included in the previous study) developed a more peatland-characteristic plant community over time, and relative to an unrestored area.
  • Vegetation cover (2 studies): Two controlled studies in one bog in Canada reported that a restored area had greater moss or bryophyte cover (including Sphagnum) than an unrestored area after 4–8 years. The restored area also had greater herb cover (including cottongrass), but less shrub cover, than the unrestored area. One of the studies reported that vegetation in the restored area became more similar to local natural bogs.
  • Overall plant richness/diversity (1 study): One controlled, before-and-after study in a bog in Canada reported that a restored area contained more plant species than an unrestored area.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

  1. A controlled, before-and-after, site comparison study in 1999–2003 in a historically mined bog and 92 natural bogs in Quebec, Canada (Mazerolle et al. 2006) reported that an area restored using the moss layer transfer technique developed greater vegetation cover than an unrestored area, and that vegetation in the restored area was more similar to that of natural bogs. These results were not tested for statistical significance. After four years, the restored area had 49% moss cover (vs unrestored: 2%; natural: 85%), 19% herb cover (unrestored: 8%; natural: 19%) and 8% shrub cover (unrestored: 13%; natural: 51%). In autumn 1999, 8.4 ha of historically mined bog were restored by levelling the surface, rewetting (blocking drainage ditches and building embankments), adding plant fragments from the surface of a nearby natural peatland, straw mulching, and phosphorous fertilization. An adjacent 3.1 ha was not restored. In August 2003, vegetation cover was recorded in 3 x 8 m quadrats: 32 in the restored area and 15 in the unrestored area. Vegetation cover in 92 nearby natural (unmined) bogs was recorded in 2000. This study was based on the same experimental set-up as (2) and (3).

    Study and other actions tested
  2. A replicated study in 1997–2012 in 12 historically mined bogs in Canada (González et al. 2013) reported that most areas restored using the moss layer transfer technique developed a community of bog-characteristic plant species within 4–11 years. These results are not based on tests of statistical significance. Of 34 restored areas, 23 had developed a community of bog-characteristic plants (data reported as a graphical analysis). These areas were dominated by red bog moss Sphagnum rubellum (37% cover) and cottongrasses Eriophorum spp. (4–20% cover). Eleven areas did not develop this characteristic community. Eight were dominated by haircap moss Polytrichum strictum (60% cover). Three areas developed high cover of bare peat (52% cover), birch Betula sp. (12% cover) and lichens (4% cover). Between 1997 and 2004, 34 areas in 12 historically mined bogs were restored by levelling the peat surface, rewetting (blocking drainage ditches), adding Sphagnum-dominated vegetation fragments and mulching with straw. Some areas were also fertilized with phosphorous. Vegetation cover was estimated 4–11 years after intervention: vascular plants in 1 x 1 m quadrats (4–128/area) and bryophytes in 25 x 25 cm quadrats (20–640/area). This study included the site restored in (1), (3) and (4).

    Study and other actions tested
  3. A controlled, before-and-after study in 1998–2007 in a historically mined bog in Quebec, Canada (Poulin et al. 2013) reported that an area restored using the moss layer transfer technique developed a more peatland-characteristic plant community than an unrestored area, with higher richness and diversity of characteristic plants (and higher overall plant species richness). These results were not tested for statistical significance. Before intervention, both areas contained a similar community of weedy, shrubby and forest plants. Over eight years, the restored area developed a community of peatland-characteristic plants but the unrestored area did not. Red bog moss Sphagnum rubellum became particularly abundant in the restored area (data reported as graphical analyses). After eight years, the restored area contained more plant species than the unrestored area (21 vs 17), more peatland-characteristic plant species (11 vs 3; before intervention: 1) and more wetland-characteristic plant species (2 vs 0; before intervention: 0). The restored area also had higher diversity of the characteristic species than the unrestored area, but lower total plant diversity (data reported as diversity indices). In 1999, 8.4 ha of historically mined bog were restored by levelling, rewetting (building embankments and blocking drainage ditches), adding Sphagnum-dominated vegetation fragments and mulching with straw. Fertilizer was added the following summer. In the same peatland, 3.1 ha were not restored. In 1998 and 2001–2007, cover of every plant species was measured using rods dropped at over 7,000 points along transects. This study was based on the same experimental set-up as (1) and (4).

    Study and other actions tested
  4. A controlled, before-and-after study in 1999–2007 in a historically mined bog in Quebec, Canada (Rochefort et al. 2013) reported that an area restored using the moss layer transfer technique had greater cover of bryophytes and herbs, and lower tree/shrub cover, than an unrestored area. These results were not tested for statistical significance. After eight years, the restored area had total bryophyte cover of 79% (vs 19% in the unrestored area), Sphagnum moss cover of 60% (unrestored: 0%), total herb cover of 76% (unrestored: 18%) and sheathed cottongrass Eriophorum vaginatum cover of 50% (unrestored: 5%). In contrast, the restored area had only 5% tree/shrub cover, compared to 23% in the unrestored area. Before restoration, vegetation cover was low (e.g. bryophytes <15%, herbs <20%) and similar across areas later restored and unrestored. In 1999, 8.4 ha of historically mined bog were restored by levelling, rewetting (building embankments and blocking drainage ditches), adding Sphagnum-dominated vegetation fragments and mulching with straw. Fertilizer was added the following summer. In the same peatland, 3.1 ha were not restored. In July 1999 (before restoration) and biannually between 2001 and 2007, plant species were recorded at approximately 5,700 points across the bog. Similar results were obtained when cover was visually estimated in forty-three 3 x 8 m quadrats. This study was based on the same experimental set-up as (1) and (2).

    Study and other actions tested
Please cite as:

Taylor, N.G., Grillas, P. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Peatland Conservation. Pages 367-430 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

Peatland Conservation

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Peatland Conservation
Peatland Conservation

Peatland Conservation - Published 2018

Peatland Conservation

What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

More about What Works in Conservation

Download free PDF or purchase
The Conservation Evidence Journal

The Conservation Evidence Journal

An online, free to publish in, open-access journal publishing results from research and projects that test the effectiveness of conservation actions.

Read the latest volume: Volume 21

Go to the CE Journal

Discover more on our blog

Our blog contains the latest news and updates from the Conservation Evidence team, the Conservation Evidence Journal, and our global partners in evidence-based conservation.


Who uses Conservation Evidence?

Meet some of the evidence champions

Endangered Landscape ProgrammeRed List Champion - Arc Kent Wildlife Trust The Rufford Foundation Save the Frogs - Ghana Mauritian Wildlife Supporting Conservation Leaders
Sustainability Dashboard National Biodiversity Network Frog Life The international journey of Conservation - Oryx Cool Farm Alliance UNEP AWFA Bat Conservation InternationalPeople trust for endangered species Vincet Wildlife Trust