Synthesis of peatland knowledge in the Hudson Bay Lowland
Synthesizing peatland research to understand how this region will respond to climate change and development
The Hudson Bay Lowland (HBL) is the second largest peatland complex on the globe, storing between 30 to 39 billion tonnes of soil carbon. However, climate change and proposed industrial activities in the HBL will alter the structure and function of peatlands, impacting the stored carbon and emissions and removals (fluxes) of greenhouse gases. This project aims to complete a synthesis of peatland research across the HBL to establish a baseline of existing knowledge and data, to understand knowledge gaps, and to provide suggestions for future research and monitoring that may be used to assess how the HBL peatlands will respond to increased pressures.
Goals of the project
- Review and synthesize key papers and datasets that have examined peatland carbon storage and fluxes of greenhouse gases;
- Compile literature and datasets on environmental variables relevant to carbon storage and flux, such as peatland hydrology, vegetation composition, permafrost characteristics, and peatland formation and degradation mechanisms;
- Identify knowledge gaps relating to carbon storage and flux, including identifying geographic areas in the HBL where research and data is limited or non-existent, and make recommendations for future research and monitoring.
What we’re doing
- Conducting a comprehensive review of published literature relating to peatlands in the HBL.
- Creating a database of available data in the HBL along with a table outlining studies relevant to HBL peatlands published between 1957 and 2024.
- Collaborating with academic, government, and Indigenous partners to produce a peer-reviewed publication outlining the importance of HBL peatlands and the need for adequate data to support informed decision making.
