Restoring peatlands brings many benefits
Vähentyvästä turvetuotannosta vapautuu vuosittain tuhansia hehtaareja maata. Näiden alueiden ennallistaminen kosteikoiksi tarjoaa monia hyötyjä, jotka ulottuvat luonnon monimuotoisuuden edistämisestä vesiensuojeluun ja jopa ilmastonmuutosta ehkäiseviin vaikutuksiin.
Ennallistaminen tukee luonnon monimuotoisuutta
Kosteikot ovat tärkeitä elinympäristöjä monille lajeille, mutta niitä on hävinnyt merkittävästi maankäytön muutosten seurauksena. Ennallistamalla turvetuotantoalueet takaisin kosteikoiksi voidaan palauttaa menetettyjä elinympäristöjä ja estää kosteikkolajien taantumista.
Many species that were once abundant, such as waterfowl, waders, and various invertebrates, benefit from the restoration of wetlands, as these provide natural breeding and nesting habitats and resting areas during migration.
Kosteikoilla merkittävä rooli vesiensuojelussa
Wetlands also play an important role in water protection. Wetlands act as natural filters for water: the flow of water slows down in wetland basins, allowing solids carried by the water to settle to the bottom. Wetlands can retain up to 90% of the soil and nutrients carried by the water. Thanks to dam structures, clean surface water can flow forward, resulting in cleaner water in the waterways below the wetland. This reduces their nutrient load and protects them from eutrophication.
Wetlands also act as buffers during spring floods and heavy rainfall. They even out flood peaks, preventing floodwaters from suddenly flowing into downstream waterways. This reduces erosion caused by fast-flowing water and helps prevent the leaching of solids, which in turn supports the protection of waterways.
Ennallistaminen palauttaa luonnollisen tilan
Alongside restoration, there is often talk of returning areas to their natural state. However, the definition of a natural state is always relative. The nature that surrounds us is constantly changing, and determining a suitable point of return is challenging. Our familiar natural environment has been different depending on whether we look at it as it was 50, 500 or perhaps even 6,000 years ago. Therefore, the primary goal of restoration at this point is to support the functioning of our current species and ecosystems so that our nature remains vibrant in the future.
Suomen Riistanhoito-Säätiö ennallistaa turvetuotantoalueita takaisin suoalueiksi ja monitavoitteisiksi kosteikoiksi. Lue lisää täältä!