Sax-Zim Bog Restoration Project

The Nature Conservancy conducted research in the Saz-Zim Bog with the mission to measure carbon and methane emissions from the bog in order to learn more about its potential for mitigating climate change and the best approach for restoration. Long misunderstood and unappreciated, peatlands are gaining recognition for the carbon storage and other ecosystem benefits they provide. They first protected intact peatlands from direct conversion to agriculture, development and mining. Next, they plugged ditches, re-wetted partially drained peatlands and brought back completely drained or converted peatlands where possible. Ultimately, they sought to understand the relationship between the plant communities, the hydrology and then the gas exchange.