Peatlands

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. 

Peatlands can be categorized into two primary groups: bogs, also known as ombrotrophic peatlands or Sphagnum-dominated peatlands, and fens, which are classified as minerotrophic peatlands. Bogs are dominated by Sphagnum mosses and ericaceous plants, are acidic, and are fed with water only by precipitation. Fens are dominated by a diverse assemblage of mosses, sedges, and shrubby species, are more nutrient rich, and are also supplied with water by surface and groundwater runoff [36].

A Globally Significant Ecosystem

Peatlands exist on every continent and in all types of climates, covering about 4.23 million km², or 2.84% of the Earth's land surface [40].

Some peatlands are actively building up Peat as plants grow and partially decay. Others have stopped accumulating Peat over time and no longer support the main Peat-forming plants, like Sphagnum mosses.

Peatlands are carbon-rich ecosystems that store and absorb more carbon than any other land-based ecosystem—even more than the world's forests [39]. This is because Peat forms and accumulates over thousands of years as waterlogged plants slowly break down, locking away large amounts of carbon in the Peat deposit.

Peat vs. Sphagnum Moss: What’s the Difference?

 Although the terms are often used interchangeably, Peat moss and sphagnum moss are distinct. Sphagnum moss refers to the living plants that grow on the surface of bogs, while Peat is the partially decomposed, compacted remains of sphagnum and other materials that are accumulating. Sphagnum moss is commonly used live in horticulture and floral arrangements, and it also plays a vital role in peatland restoration. Through the Moss Layer Transfer Technique (MLTT), live sphagnum plants are collected from a donor site, chopped, and spread onto a restoration site at a 1:10 ratio, helping regenerate healthy peatland ecosystems [32]. 

Learn more about the MLTT here.

Peatland Distribution

In Canada, peatlands cover 119 million hectares, or approximately 13% of the country’s surface area and 27% of the world’s peatlands. The provinces of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec have the largest areas, including the Hudson Bay Lowlands [38]. Peatland abundance in the northern territories (Northwest Territories and Nunavut) remains uncertain and better maps of this vast area are needed. The Canadian Peat industry operates within the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.