Management and ecological restoration of peatlands for a sustainable Canadian horticultural peat industry

加拿大泥炭业及其协会（加拿大泥炭藓泥炭藓协会- CSPMA）促进生态恢复作为他们的首选恢复策略泥炭地提取园艺目的。泥炭地恢复试图通过恢复泥炭地的碳积累功能来解决泥炭地的环境影响和经济利用之间的矛盾。25年前开始的基于工业的研究计划成功地开发了一种沼泽（富营养泥炭地）的恢复方法。然而，恢复成功必须在磷肥、动物多样性（鸟类、昆虫和两栖动物）和特别关注的植物物种方面得到更多的记录。我们还建议制定以科学为基础的标准（阈值），以评估恢复行动的有效性，其中包括制定水文和碳固存指标，将重新植被模式和恢复成功联系起来。还将调查在泥炭提取后暴露于矿营养泥炭的地点的恢复技术，特别是重新湿润和植物引进。还将评估泥炭提取作业对水质的影响。最后，优化泥炭藓养殖技术，以实现泥炭藓纤维的可持续生产，这对泥炭行业来说是有意义的，特别是通过加强限制有机土壤分解的酶闩锁机制。拟议的研究计划是泛加拿大的，是由泥炭资源的可持续和负责任的发展的角度指导。

The Canadian peat industry and its association (Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association - CSPMA) promoted ecological restoration as their first choice of rehabilitation strategies for peatland extracted for horticultural purposes. Peatland restoration attempts to resolve the conflict between environmental impacts and the economical use of peatlands by enabling the return of the carbon accumulating function of peatlands. Industry based research programs initiated 25 years ago successfully develop a restoration method for bogs (ombotrophic peatlands).However, restoration success must be more documented in regards with phosphorous fertilization, fauna diversity (birds, insects and amphibians) and for plant species of special concern. We also propose to develop science-based criteria (thresholds) to assess the effectiveness of restoration actions which includes, amongst other things, to develop hydrology and carbon sequestration indicators to link with revegetation pattern and restoration success. Restoration techniques for sites where minerotrophic peat is exposed after peat extraction will also be investigated, specifically for rewetting and plant introduction. The impacts of peat extraction operations on water quality will also be evaluated. Lastly, optimization of Sphagnum farming techniques for the sustainable production of Sphagnum fibers is of interest for the peat industry, notably by strengthening the enzymatic latch mechanism that limits decomposition in organic soils. The proposed research program is pan-Canadian and is guided by a perspective of sustainable and responsible development of the peat resource.********