Restoring Historic Peatlands to Expand Carbon Sequestration Across Canada
The CanRePeat project is an ambitious partnership between CSPMA and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) aimed at transforming historic post-extraction peatlands into nature-based solutions by restoring their carbon storing and sequestration function. The habitats that are restored also support biodiversity across Canada.
The CanRePeat project features three key steps tailored to the industry partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC):
Step 1: Evaluate
Historic Peat extraction sites are areas where Peat was extracted without any restoration efforts applied afterward. The goal of this step is to locate these historic sites and determine what specific interventions and best management practices are needed to restore them.
Today, proposed Peat extraction projects cannot be approved by government without a comprehensive restoration plan in place. In all provinces, laws now mandate the restoration of Canadian peatlands after extraction. Additionally, as of 2024, 88% of the peatland surfaces managed by the Canadian Peat industry are certified under the third-party Veriflora® Responsibly Managed Peatlands Certification, reflecting the industry’s commitment to meet environmental and social standards that exceed the legal requirements.
Step 2: Restore
Extracted peatlands do not return to their natural state of Peat-accumulating ecosystems on their own. We apply ecological restoration methods to ensure the return of the ecosystem functions. Depending on site conditions, several methods may be used to restore post-extraction peatlands, including the Moss Layer Transfer Technique (MLTT), active rewetting, and others.
The MLTT is applied for bog restoration, which is the most common type of restoration. Its steps involve planning the restoration project, collecting plant material for restoration from a donor site, site preparation and rewetting, and the spreading of plant material, mulch and fertilizer. The site is then monitored to ensure success.
Step 3: Secure
The final step in the CanRePeat process is securement. Securing a site ensures that restored peatlands are protected and that Peat keeps sequestering and storing carbon for generations to come.
Securement is completed with a land trust, government or Indigenous partners. There are different options:
- On public lands: restored peatlands are returned to the Crown.
- On private lands:
- restored peatlands are sold to a land trust partner; or
- restored peatlands are secured through conservation easements, servitudes or covenants. They may also be secured through long-term conservation agreements. In all cases, securement aims to secure the restored carbon sequestration and biodiversity.
- Private landowners can apply for tax breaks through the ECCC EcoGifts program, either for the sale of the restored peatland or the establishment of the conservation easement.
Why CanRePeat?
CanRePeat restores historically extracted peatlands, converting them from greenhouse gas sources into vital carbon sinks and unlocking their potential as nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation. Without intervention, these sites lose their carbon storage capacity, and remaining Peat decomposes, releasing greenhouse gases.
Since 1992, the Peat industry has demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship by partnering with the scientific community through the Peatland Ecology Research Group (PERG) to develop effective restoration methods for extracted peatlands. Restored peatlands sequester carbon while also offering important co-benefits, such as storing and purifying water and supporting biodiversity.
