PEAT AND PEATLANDS: FUNCTIONS, VALUES AND THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Peatlands are the peat soil and the wetland habitat growing on its surface. Known by various names such as bogs, fens, and mires, these are the type of wetlands that occur in almost every country, currently covering 3% of the global land surface. Countries such as Canada, Russia, England, Ireland and some tropical countries such as Indonesia have extensive peatlands. The Peat or the organic matter accumulated under anoxic condition is significant for their ecological role as well their uses and values. Three basic peat and associated peatland types are recognized based on the composition of plants – Sphagnum, sedge, and woody peats. Peatlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth as they are critical for preserving global biodiversity, provide safe drinking water, minimise flood risk and help address climate change while peat is an important source of energy in many countries, used in agriculture and horticulture. Peatlands are important archaeological sites and are indicators of paleoclimates. Some prominent archaeological sites have been found around peatlands being indicators of human activities of the past and changes in paleoclimates. Presence of amoeba and other life forms in the peat mixture is good indicator of climatic fluctuations.