Rewetting Drained Temperate Peatlands Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Methodology: Applicability
The first step in restoring drained and ditched peatlands in Northern Minnesota is making sure the Verified Carbon Standard’s “Methodology for Rewetting Drained Temperate Peatlands” is applicable to potential projects Mitigation Partners, Inc. (MPI) is exploring. Fortunately, in the methodology document the Applicability section gives a detailed account of the conditions required to use their methodology.
In total there are 12 conditions, most with sub-conditions, that cover a range of topics from project design to the baseline scenario to post-rewetting. For the purposes of this post MPI will cover a few of the more general, but vital conditions. If you are interested in going more in depth on the other conditions and the full range of their requirements MPI encourages you to take a look at the methodology document here.
Starter Conditions
The more of the self-evident conditions include, the project must meet the definition of a peatland as defined by the VCS Program; The activity of the project must be rewetting a drained peatland in a temperate climate; The drainage of the peatland could have occurred because of or in combination of:
No longer profitable forestry
With the provision of various records to prove it
Peat extraction
Abandoned two years prior to project start date
Agriculture
Abandoned two years prior to project start date
OR will be continued in the project
OR drainage of more peatland will not occur/prohibited by law for new agricultural sites
These are a few of the starter conditions utilized when looking for potential peatland restoration sites. Using these conditions narrows down our potential site pool so MPI can focus on the restoration projects which may make the biggest impact.
Project Scenario Conditions
The project scenario conditions give guidelines on what must not be done during the actual restoration project. Activities that must not be done during restoration include peat extraction or burning, burning of biomass, and nitrogen fertilizer use. These assure that the restoration is carried out in an environmentally conscious manner. Reducing any GHG emissions during restoration and avoiding nitrogen pollution.
On that note, another condition requires justification that N2O emissions will not rise post rewetting compared to baseline emissions. This can be justified through peer-reviewed literature and satisfactory rewetting. Nitrous oxide is a potent greenhouse gas and this protects the environment from any unnecessary emissions.
Post Restoration Conditions
Post restoration is one of the most important phases of a project. The way the land is used and monitored can have a big effect on how well carbon is sequestered from the atmosphere in the future. Once rewetting has occurred on restored peatlands the land use is limited to a few or combination of these uses including:
Forestry
Agriculture
Nature conservation/recreation
The applicability section of VCS verified methodologies gives a good outline of general conditions projects must satisfy. MPI uses these conditions as a large part of our decision making process when researching potential sites. MPI. strives to do the best peatland restorations possible. Using the VCS’s “Methodology for Rewetting Drained Temperate Peatlands” as a tool, we are confidant MPI can achieve this.
Mitigation Partners, Inc. Founders Dax Dickson & Tory Christensen
