The impacts of land‐use and climate change on the Zoige peatland carbon cycle: A review

• Published in: Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Climate change 2024-01, Vol.15 (1), p.e862-n/a
• Main Authors: Gaffney, Paul P. J., Tang, Qiuhong, Li, Quanwen, Zhang, Ruiyang, Pan, Junxiao, Xu, Ximeng, Li, Yuan, Niu, Shuli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon cycle; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; Climate change; climate warming; Conservation; Degradation; Ecosystem services; Environmental impact; Environmental restoration; Future climates; Land management; Land use; net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB); Paleoclimate; peatland degradation; Peatlands; Water table; water table lowering
• ISSN: 1757-7780; 1757-7799
• DOI: 10.1002/wcc.862

The Zoige peatlands are the largest peatland area in China, and the largest high‐altitude peatland in the world. As with many peatlands worldwide, degradation from land management and climate change mean that the intact Zoige peatland area has decreased, potentially reducing the carbon (C) sink function and ecosystem services. This review summarizes current knowledge of the impacts of land‐use and climate change on the Zoige peatland C cycle in a global perspective and identifies future research and management directions. The existing literature suggests that artificial drainage carried out to lower water tables and improve grazing has a significant impact on the peatland C cycle. Drained and degraded areas may act as a net C source, through increased CO2 emissions, although the overall C balance of the Zoige peatlands is likely still a net C sink. Future climate change may also impact upon the peatland C cycle. Warming of 2°C may significantly reduce the strength of the C sink of intact peatland areas, which may shift the overall Zoige peatland C cycle balance to a net C source. The effect of warming on degraded Zoige peatlands is a major uncertainty, although the global literature suggests warming effects may be greater in degraded peatlands. Restoration of degraded peatlands (by blocking drains) may help reverse some of the impacts of degradation and gradually recover C sink function. However, there are fewer studies in Zoige peatlands than elsewhere. We conclude with several specific suggestions for future research on the peatland C cycle. This article is categorized under: Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Modern Climate Change Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Observed Impacts of Climate Change Climate, Ecology, and Conservation > Observed Ecological Changes Intact Zoige peatlands function as a net carbon sink, while artificial drainage may change such areas to a net carbon source. Climate warming may decrease the carbon sink strength of intact peatland areas, effects of warming on degraded Zoige peatlands are generally unknown.