After-use of cut-over peatlands and restoration of wetlands

Hirvineva: Energy peat production and after-use of cut-away peatlands
Peat is an important domestic energy source in Finland despite the ongoing debate on its effects on the emission of greenhouse gases and on the water quality. Approximately 1% of peatlands are used for peat production in Oulu region. This produces 40% of the household electricity use.

Vapo’s (the leading peat producer in Finland) peat production area in Liminka and three after-use options of cut-over peatlands will be seen in the excursion. The water protection structures, such as the sedimentation pond and overland flow field, will be shown in the peat production area.

Afforestation of former peat production area using ash fertilizer. Photo: Noora Huotari.	Hirvineva Bird Lake, former peat production area. Photo: Anne Tolvanen.

Afforestation is one of the most popular after-use option of cut-away peatlands in Finland. An afforestation experiment, where Metla has studied the recycling of wood- and peat-ash as a fertilizer, will be visited. Cut-away areas in agricultural use can be seen next to the afforested site. Hirvineva Bird Lake is the example of re-wetting of cut-away peatlands. The 100 ha wide and 0.7 m deep lake was established in 1995. It is presently a recreational site equipped with bird-watching tower, environmental trail and resting area with campfire option.

Pikku Nuoluanjärvi, restorated wetland for waterfowl
In the early 1900s Pikku Nuoluanjärvi was a shallow wetland. There were large scale forestry and acricultural drainages in the surroundings of Pikku Nuoluanjärvi between 1960s and 1970s. The wetland gradually dried.

The aim was to restore two cost-effective wetlands side by side especially for waterfowls, and to imitate effects of the beaver on wetland. The restoration started in April 2012 with tree falling. The southern wetland area was clear-cut, whereas the northern wetland area was left in current state. According to the waterfowl counts in 2013 species were e.g. duck, teal, eurasian wigeon, northern pintail and goldeneye. 

The restoration project was conducted in Life+ Return of Rural Wetlands -project, in co-operation with Vapo Oy, North Ostrobothnia Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment and The Finnish Forest Centre.

More information: Pikku Nuoluanjärvi