Hammartorpsmossen

Natural values

The bog is mostly forested and consists of three habitat types:

Coniferous swamp forest, deciduous swamp forest and open poor marsh. All habitat types are considered to have significant natural values (class 3).

There are large areas of coarse trees and dead wood, and some conservation species have been noted, including the shining spot.

The fen is dominated by white mosses, cranberries, roselle, tufa and with elements of reed canary grass.

The entire bog is about 6.5 hectares in size and is affected by drainage. Plugging the ditch and rewetting the bog will reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Raising the water level in the area is expected to contribute to further developing the natural values of the area.

Why rewet?

Wetlands that have formed or are forming peat play an important role for the climate because peat contains large amounts of carbon.

Protecting and restoring carbon-rich ecosystems such as peatlands benefits the climate, as it can help reduce carbon emissions.

Peatlands are created over a long period of time as material from dead plants does not decompose in wet and oxygen-poor conditions. This organic matter is composed of large amounts of carbon and can continue to form if the soil remains wet. If, on the other hand, the soil is drained, as was done in the 19th to mid-20th centuries, the organic matter is oxygenated and starts to decompose.