Identification and classification of unmapped blanket bogs in the Cordillera Cantábrica, northern Spain
Blanket bogs are rare types of peatland that are recognised internationally for important habitat provision, and nationally and locally as important carbon stores and sinks. These ecosystems enjoy particular attention and protection within the European Union, but gaps highlighted in the Spanish nati...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Mires and Peat |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map24/map_24_02.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797765218330214400 |
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| author | G. Chico B. Clutterbuck R. Lindsay N.G. Midgley J. Labadz |
| author_facet | G. Chico B. Clutterbuck R. Lindsay N.G. Midgley J. Labadz |
| author_sort | G. Chico |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Blanket bogs are rare types of peatland that are recognised internationally for important habitat provision, and nationally and locally as important carbon stores and sinks. These ecosystems enjoy particular attention and protection within the European Union, but gaps highlighted in the Spanish national peatland inventory leave many areas of Spain’s blanket bog habitat unprotected and exposed to anthropogenic pressures such as livestock or wind farm development. This research identifies and offers classification of four currently unmapped areas of blanket bog located in the Cordillera Cantábrica (north Spain) on the administrative boundaries between the regions of Cantabria and Castilla y León. Peat depth was surveyed on a 15 m spaced grid at all sites and mesotope units were defined from topography and hydrological flow patterns. Two sloping and two mound blanket bogs were identified containing a range of bog and fen mesotope units. Maximum peat depth at the five sites ranges from 1.78 to 2.82 m covering an area of 43 ha of blanket bog (> 30 cm peat depth). The survey also estimates that more than 300,000 m³ of peat has accumulated across all sites. This study adds significantly to the known global distribution of blanket mire and suggests that an urgent update of national peatland inventories is needed more widely, not least in Spain, to identify currently unmapped areas of blanket bog. The approach used here can be employed wherever blanket mires occur in the world to promote their designation and the preservation of peatland diversity and carbon storage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:08:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a03bc41ffa7144cb8ac6cdc47a3e046e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1819-754X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T20:08:00Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | International Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mires and Peat |
| spelling | doaj.art-a03bc41ffa7144cb8ac6cdc47a3e046e2023-08-02T01:58:31ZengInternational Mire Conservation Group and International Peatland SocietyMires and Peat1819-754X2019-03-01240211210.19189/MaP.2018.AJB.378Identification and classification of unmapped blanket bogs in the Cordillera Cantábrica, northern SpainG. Chico0B. Clutterbuck1R. Lindsay2N.G. Midgley3J. Labadz4School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UKSchool of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UKSustainability Research Institute, University of East London, London, UKSchool of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UKSchool of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UKBlanket bogs are rare types of peatland that are recognised internationally for important habitat provision, and nationally and locally as important carbon stores and sinks. These ecosystems enjoy particular attention and protection within the European Union, but gaps highlighted in the Spanish national peatland inventory leave many areas of Spain’s blanket bog habitat unprotected and exposed to anthropogenic pressures such as livestock or wind farm development. This research identifies and offers classification of four currently unmapped areas of blanket bog located in the Cordillera Cantábrica (north Spain) on the administrative boundaries between the regions of Cantabria and Castilla y León. Peat depth was surveyed on a 15 m spaced grid at all sites and mesotope units were defined from topography and hydrological flow patterns. Two sloping and two mound blanket bogs were identified containing a range of bog and fen mesotope units. Maximum peat depth at the five sites ranges from 1.78 to 2.82 m covering an area of 43 ha of blanket bog (> 30 cm peat depth). The survey also estimates that more than 300,000 m³ of peat has accumulated across all sites. This study adds significantly to the known global distribution of blanket mire and suggests that an urgent update of national peatland inventories is needed more widely, not least in Spain, to identify currently unmapped areas of blanket bog. The approach used here can be employed wherever blanket mires occur in the world to promote their designation and the preservation of peatland diversity and carbon storage.http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map24/map_24_02.pdfblanket mirefenmesotopepeat depthwind farms |
| spellingShingle | G. Chico B. Clutterbuck R. Lindsay N.G. Midgley J. Labadz Identification and classification of unmapped blanket bogs in the Cordillera Cantábrica, northern Spain Mires and Peat blanket mire fen mesotope peat depth wind farms |
| title | Identification and classification of unmapped blanket bogs in the Cordillera Cantábrica, northern Spain |
| title_full | Identification and classification of unmapped blanket bogs in the Cordillera Cantábrica, northern Spain |
| title_fullStr | Identification and classification of unmapped blanket bogs in the Cordillera Cantábrica, northern Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification and classification of unmapped blanket bogs in the Cordillera Cantábrica, northern Spain |
| title_short | Identification and classification of unmapped blanket bogs in the Cordillera Cantábrica, northern Spain |
| title_sort | identification and classification of unmapped blanket bogs in the cordillera cantabrica northern spain |
| topic | blanket mire fen mesotope peat depth wind farms |
| url | http://mires-and-peat.net/media/map24/map_24_02.pdf |
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