Welcome to peatmoss.com
For nearly a century, Canadian Peat has helped North American growers deliver food security and well-being by cultivating fruits, flowers, vegetables, mushrooms, and more. Today, Peat is responsibly extracted within a total industry footprint of 36,032 hectares - less than 0.03% of Canada’s 119 million hectares of peatlands - across nine provinces, mostly in rural areas from coast to coast. While Peat is extracted from a small footprint of managed peatlands, Canada’s vast network of peatlands continues to naturally accumulate Peat [25], with current estimates indicating that, each year, at least twenty times more Peat (by volume) forms across the country than is extracted by industry.
The industry is made up of many family-owned and multi-generational companies. Guided by the principles of Responsible Peatland Management and Wise Use of Peat, these companies are committed to sustainably meeting demand while preserving the vital ecosystem services peatlands provide - like carbon storage, water regulation, and providing habitat for flora and fauna - for generations to come.
Each year, approximately 11.3 million cubic metres (or 400 million cubic feet) of Peat are extracted, primarily for use in professional growing mixes and potting soils. While this extraction generates greenhouse gases, the industry has long taken responsibility. Over 30 years ago, before climate change was widely discussed, an academic-industry partnership was put in place and began to foster best practices for peatland management, including a restoration technique that is internationally recognized and applied.
Explore the website to learn more and form your own perspective on Canadian Peat. For deeper insights, download our science-based fact sheets.
Questions? Contact us at the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA), at info@peatmoss.com.
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Peat is essential
Peat is an irreplaceable resource that fuels healthy plant growth, supporting both food production, food security, and the greening of our environment. From professional growers to home gardeners, Peat provides the foundation for thriving crops and vibrant landscapes across North America.
Peat is the Enabler
Peat is the enabler in growing media, providing the ideal balance of water retention, aeration, and nutrient retention. It can also work alongside alternatives like wood fiber and coco coir, to help optimize the growing mix, ensuring plants receive the right conditions for healthy, strong growth.
Peat extraction is responsible
Canadian Peat extraction follows strict environmental regulations and applies science-based practices for responsible resource management. After extraction, the industry restores peatlands, returning ecological functions to ensure the long-term health and resilience of both the land and surrounding ecosystems.
Veriflora® Responsibly Managed Peatlands Certification
This Certification demonstrates the industry's commitment to the application of responsible management principles in all aspects of sustainable development including, ecosystem protection, social engagement, and product quality.
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What are Peatlands?
Peatlands are a type of wetland ecosystems that have accumulated an organic layer at least 30-40 cm thick. This organic matter accumulates due to the slow decomposition of relatively decay-resistant litter in water-saturated, anoxic soils, often under cool temperatures when occurring at high latitudes.
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The Role of Peat
Peat is an organic deposit made up of partially decomposed vegetal organic matter. It takes shape slowly in peatlands where the accumulation of organic matter overrides the decomposition due to the anoxic conditions caused by water saturation, lack of oxygen and high acidity.
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Sustainability
The Canadian Peat industry is ensuring this vital resource is responsibly managed so it remains available for generations to come. This commitment includes environmentally and socially responsible practices tailored to the unique needs of peatland ecosystems and certified through the Veriflora® Responsibly Managed Peatlands program.
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