Functional land management model — tool for sustainable and climate friendly management of nutrient rich organic soils

Climate change is one of the greatest environmental, social and economic challenges of our days and warming of the climate system is unequivocal. Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions caused by human activities are the most significant driver of the observed climate changes since the mid-20th century. Managed nutrient rich organic soils are one of the largest key sources of GHG emissions in Boreal and Temperate cool and Moist (TCM) climate regions in Europe. In these regions managed organic soils usually are drained forests and fens or mires that when efficiently drained can increase GHG emissions. The total area of managed organic soils in EU is 34.5 mill. ha (7% of the EU area). Organic soils can have high GHG emission as well as carbon storage potential depending on chosen management strategies. Based on the research and results obtained within the framework of the LIFE program project “Demonstration of climate change mitigation potential of nutrient rich organic soils in Baltic States and Finland” (LIFE OrgBalt), the authors have developed a functional land management model — a tool for sustainable and climate friendly management of nutrient rich organic soils. The model is designed to allow the user to assess the performance of organic soils depending on the planned land use type (scenario), based on the land use performance criteria: financial return, economic return, financial deficit and the optimal amount of public funding, reduction of GHG emissions and ecosystem services assessment. Based on the findings and using the developed model, it is possible to implement deliberative management decisions of managed nutrient rich organic soils, to evaluate potential management costs, plan the expected financial return, assess the benefits of climate mitigation and take into account nature values.