Restoration of wetlands on the Agulhas Plain is unlikely to generate peat
Date
2018-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academy of Science of South Africa
Abstract
Wetlands in the Nuwejaars Special Management Area (NSMA) on the Agulhas Plain of South Africa are classified as
Western Cape Floodplain Wetlands1 and are characterised by dense stands of palmiet (Prionium serratum L.f.). Invasions of alien plants and construction of infrastructure are resulting in considerable degradation of ecosystem
services emanating from the wetlands. Large-scale restoration – by removing alien plants and rehydrating soils
– is constrained by funding, and consequently new income streams from restored wetland landscapes need to
be investigated. One option is to sequester carbon and generate carbon credits during the wetland restoration
process. The economic viability of this option largely depends on the amount of carbon that could be sequestered.
Previous studies of Western Cape Floodplain Wetlands have found that the carbon content of soils in wetlands with
palmiet is surprisingly variable (e.g. ~1.3% in the Kromme River versus ~24% in the Goukou River). In general,
however, wetlands in the Western Cape do not usually have a carbon content of more than 10%, possibly because
of the rapid decomposition of organic matter during the hot, dry summer months.
Description
CITATION: Mills, A. & Hunter, R. 2018. Restoration of wetlands on the Agulhas Plain is unlikely to generate peat. South African Journal of Science, 114(1/2), Art. #a0252, doi:10.17159/sajs.2018/a0252.
The original publication is available at http://sajs.co.za
The original publication is available at http://sajs.co.za
Keywords
Organic soil, Soil restoration -- South Africa -- Western Province -- Agulhas plain, Carbon offsetting -- South Africa -- Western Province -- Agulhas plain, Wetland conservation -- South Africa -- Western Province -- Agulhas plain, Peat soils
Citation
Mills, A. & Hunter, R. 2018. Restoration of wetlands on the Agulhas Plain is unlikely to generate peat. South African Journal of Science, 114(1/2), Art. #a0252, doi:10.17159/sajs.2018/a0252