EXPERIMENTAL PREPARATION OF RAISED BOG

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EXPERIMENTAL PREPARATION OF RAISED BOG
REHABILITATION IN THE PROCESS OF PEAT-CUTTING
Dr. Romas PAKALNIS, dr. Jurate SENDIKAITE, dr.
Dalia AVIIENE
Laboratory of Landscape Ecology Institute of
Botany (Lithuania)
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The Lithuanian bogs cover only 6,4 of the
State territory (415 000 ha). According V.
Saulenas (1995) small peat bogs dominate in
Lithuania, and the peat layers of industrial
importance cover only 237 000 ha, out of which
only 64 peat bogs have realistic exploitation
resources with only approximately 119 million
tons of peat, which accounts for about 10 of
all the Lithuanian peat resources. These
data highlight a must to use peat resources and
peat mining products economically and rationally.
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Other peat mining aspect unsolved legally is
dehumidifying effect in the neighbouring
territories. As concerns the latest technologies,
peat mining is possible only if the water-level
in the peat bog is constantly lowered during the
entire mining period. As peat, especially
in upland raised bogs, is quite water-permeable,
the dehumidifying effect of a peat bog may be
felt within the upland raised bog zone of 50-100
metre in width, however it could be much bigger
in mineral soils of light mechanical composition.
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Historically, the interests of bog
conservation and peat mining are opposing in
Auktumala bog. It is essential to maintain
the water-level regime favourable for bog
formation in Auktumala Telmological Nature
Reserve, and the water level in the mining fields
on the other side of the ditch has to be
constantly lowered. The researchers of
Institute of Botany collaborated with the
specialist from company ILUTES DURPES, Ltd.
and found a way and technology how to isolate
hydrologically the territory of the reserve from
the dehumidifying effect of mining fields.
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The raised bog of Auktumala occurs in the
western part of Lithuania, in the interstream
area of the rivers Nemunas and Minija.
Nemunas Delta Regional Park
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The raised bog of Auktumala (in scientific
publications Augstumal) is a locus clasicus of
peat land science because it is the first raised
bog in the world described in the monograph (C.
A. Weber, 1902 Vegetation and Development of the
Raised Bog of Augstumal in the Memel delta).
The above-mentioned monograph 100 years later
(2002) was translated into English language on
the initiative of the International Mire
Conservation Group.
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The monograph (Weber, 1902) was a
significant scientific fact, but after its
publication, commercial peat extraction started.
Peat litter was excavated manually until
the World War II.
The greatest changes in the raised bog of
Auktumala (3018 ha) took place in the Soviet
times after 1968, when protective embankments,
water pumping stations, roads and channels were
built, large (2/3 of the total bog) area was
drained for mechanized peat-cutting.
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After the restoration of Lithuanias
independence (1990), Lithuanian Governament
established Nemunas Delta Regional Park (1992)
with the Auktumala Telmological Nature Reserve
(1017 ha) on the unexploited western part of the
bog.
Auktumala Telmological Nature Reserve
Peat-cutting fields
Google, map data 2007
Weber, 1902 Couwenberg Joosten, 2002
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Now the company ILUTES DURPES, Ltd. processes
2471 ha of the eastern area of Auktumala bog.
Since 2000, ILUTES DURPES has successfully
integrated into the activities of the
International Concern KLASMANN-DEILMANN GmbH.
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To ensure environmental conditions suitable
for long-term economic activities, the company
takes part in collaboration drafting and
implementation of the projects on preservation of
ecological conditions in the Auktumala
Telmological Nature Reserve and possibilities of
rehabilitation of mires after peat extraction.
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A very complicated problem is that peat
extraction in the eastern part of Auktumala
provokes draining of the neighbouring zone of the
Auktumala Telmological Nature Reserve and gives
raise to negative changes in hydrological regime
and protected vegetation cover.
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What does landscape ecology have to do with it?
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Plant species of Red data book of Lithuania (2007)
Erica tetralix L. 1 (E) category
Trichophorum cespitosum (L.) C. Hartm 2 (V)
category
Dactylorhiza fuchsii (Druce) Soó 4 (I) category
?
Sphagnum imbricatum Hornsch. ex Russ.
(according Weber, 1902)
Sphagnum molle Sull. 2 (V) category
Nymphaea alba L. 4 (I) category
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• Due to rare and protected plant species,
  communities and a large number of very different
  hollow-pools (gt100), this territory was included
  into a list of NATURA 2000.

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The aim of this report

• to present the experiments of raised bog
  rehabilitation in the process of peat-cutting
  including special measures for water level
  preservation in the raised bog of Auktumala
  (Lithuania).

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The dendrochronological method was selected to
measure radial increment of Pinus sylvestris L.
growing in the raised bog.
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The radial increment of Pinus sylvestris L.
trees growing in the zone under impact of peat
extraction works was low until 1978 (it did not
exceed 0.5 mm per year), whereas during the last
37 years it has increased by more than 4 times
and reached 1-1.5 mm per year.
radial increment
years
Impact of scots pine habitat drainage upon radial
increment
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In any way, the necessity of
implementation of special measures for insulation
of nature reserve from draining activity contains
one of the most important parts of our project.
Whats necessary to do in the buffer zone?
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In territory of the Auktumala
Telmological Nature Reserve, Lithuanian Nature
Foundation has started ecological restoration
work, drainage canals were dammed in the zones of
old and primitive draining activity.
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(No Transcript)
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In 2006, technical and technological
solutions were suggested as well as an original 1
km length equipment of water level control was
installed.
Scheme of installation of the equipment of
water level control 1 2,5-3 m depth trench
was excavated 2 polythene membrane was laid
into the trench 3 the trench was filled up
with raised bog peat
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Water level monitoring system
Auktumala Telmological Nature Reserve
Legend Border of the Auktumala TNR Water
level control equipment Water level control
wells (4 profiles)
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September, 2006
January, 2007
June, 2007
August, 2007
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.
A small water body, which has formed at
the edge of the reserve, proves that the
installed equipment of water level control is
effective. The first elements of Sphagnum cover
are observed.
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The second important part of the project of
sustainable development in the Auktumala
Telmological Nature Reserve includes the measures
on ecological restoration in the peat extracted
fields of the raised bog.
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We prefer spontaneous Sphagnum cover
reestablishment but only in a specially prepared
peat extracted fields. In 2007 (September),
experimental fields for raised bog rehabilitation
were established on the exploited area.
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Water level monitoring system
Auktumala Telmological Nature Reserve
Legend Border of the Auktumala TNR Water
level control equipment Water level control
wells (4 profiles)
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Water level control wells
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Fluctuation of water level (Aukttumala, monthly
measurements, January, April-September, 2007)
7A, 8A, 8B - with protective measure
6 A - Control - without protective measure
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CONCLUSIONS

• Draining effect of peat extraction works in
  neighbouring protected areas could be decreased
  by elaboration and implementation of special
  technical measures.
• Implementation of special measures of water level
  insulation provide creation of rather stable
  banks for future bog restoration works in
  extracted part of peat bog.
• Hydrological monitoring works in one vegetation
  season show sufficient effect of implemented
  measures, but observation of water level changes
  is necessary to continue for a longer period of
  monitoring.
• Even the first year of research shows that our
  implemented way will be efficient and applicable
  within the zones of other environmental and peat
  mining conflicts.

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Acknowledgements
We wish to express our gratitude to Lithuanian
State Science and Studies Foundation and the
company ilutes durpes Ltd. for financial
assistance.
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Thank you for your attention!