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Other publication in scientific journal - Peer-reviewed, 2019

Comment on: "Peatland carbon stocks and burn history: Blanket bog peat core evidence highlights charcoal impacts on peat physical properties and long-term carbon storage," by A. Heinemeyer, Q. Asena, W. L. Burn and A. L. Jones (Geo: Geography and Environment 2018; e00063)

Evans, Chris D.; Baird, Andy J.; Green, Sophie M.; Page, Susan E.; Peacock, Michael; Reed, Mark S.; Rose, Neil L.; Stoneman, Rob; Thom, Tim J.; Young, Dylan M.; Garnett, Mark H.

Abstract

A recent paper by Heinemeyer et al. (2018) in this journal has suggested that the use of prescribed fire may enhance carbon accumulation in UK upland blanket bogs. We challenge this finding based on a number of concerns with the original manuscript including the lack of an unburned control, insufficient replication, unrecognised potential confounding factors, and potentially large inaccuracies in the core dating approach used to calculate carbon accumulation rates. We argue that burn-management of peatlands is more likely to lead to carbon loss than carbon gain. e00075

Keywords

blanket bog; carbon; fire; moorland management; peatlands

Published in

Geo
2019, volume: 6, number: 1, article number: e00075
Publisher: WILEY

Authors' information

Evans, Chris D.
Ctr Ecol and Hydrol
Baird, Andy J.
Univ Leeds
Green, Sophie M.
Univ Exeter
Page, Susan E.
Univ Leicester
Peacock, Michael
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment
Reed, Mark S.
Newcastle Univ
Rose, Neil L.
UCL
Stoneman, Rob
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Thom, Tim J.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Young, Dylan M.
Univ Leeds
Garnett, Mark H.
NERC Radiocarbon Facil

UKÄ Subject classification

Physical Geography

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/geo2.75

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/105530