Prof. Line Rochefort
Groupe de Recherche en Écologie des Tourbières
Université Laval
Québec, Qc, Canada G1K 7P4
Tel: +1-418-656-2131 ext 2583
Fax: +1-418-656-7856
e-mail
Land management practices such as drainage for agriculture, forestry, urban sprawl and peat harvesting results in damage to peat bogs. Because of potential long-term impacts, the Canadian peat industry has initiated research partnerships with governmental agencies and universities in order to develop restoration techniques for harvested peat bogs. The long-term objective is to restore functional peat accumulating ecosystems. The short-term objective is to re-establish a vascular plant and moss carpet by rewetting the soil, reintroducing plant diaspores, and creating suitable climatic and substrate conditions for diaspore establishment. This seminar will present methods for establishing a vegetation carpet on most harvested peat bogs in North America within 3-5 years. Basically, this method consists of: 1) collecting and shredding the living plant layer in a natural bog, 2) spreading this plant material, 3) applying a straw mulch, and 4) blocking the drainage system to allow rewetting of the site.