Peatlands are terrestrial wetland ecosystems in which waterlogged conditions prevent plant material from fully decomposing. Consequently, the production of organic matter exceeds its decomposition, which results in a net accumulation of peat.

Fens are peat-forming wetlands that rely on groundwater input and require thousands of years to develop and cannot easily be restored once destroyed. Fens are also hotspots of biodiversity. They often are home to rare plants, insects, and small mammals.

A variety of mire types in Carbajal Valley, Argentina Avaste Fen, one of the largest fens in Estonia A valley mire creates a level ground surface in otherwise dramatic topography. Upper Bigo Bog, Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. A peatland is a type of wetland whose soils consist of organic matter from decaying plants, forming layers of peat.Peatlands arise because of incomplete decomposition of ...

Peatlands, particularly bogs, are the primary source of peat; [6] although less common, other wetlands, including fens, pocosins and peat swamp forests, also deposit peat. Landscapes covered in peat are home to specific kinds of plants, including Sphagnum moss, ericaceous shrubs and sedges.

A peatland is a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by the natural accumulation of organic matter derived from decaying plant material (peat) under permanent water saturation. Peatlands are dominated by actively forming peat and usually contain a foot or more of accumulated peat.

Feb 5, 2025 · Bogs are one of North America's most distinctive kinds of wetlands. They are characterized by spongy peat deposits, acidic waters and a floor covered by a thick carpet of sphagnum moss. Bogs receive all or most of their water from precipitation rather than from runoff, groundwater or streams.

Oct 8, 2024 · Arctic wetlands form one of the richest waterbird habitats and nesting areas in the world. Importantly, peatlands are home to many endemic species which have adapted to the special acidic, nutrient poor and water-logged conditions such as the bog hoverfly and the common sundew.

According to Xu et al. (2018), the majority of the worlds peatlands are situated in Asia (38.4%) and North America (31.6%, mostly Canada & Alaska). European peatlands make up 12.5%, followed by South America (11.5%), Africa (4.4%), and Australasia and Oceania (1.6%).

Soggy peatlands make up about half of the world’s wetlands. They occur in all the world’s regions from tropical rainforest to the Arctic. We propose rewetting 50 million hectares of peatlands worldwide by 2050 to stem emissions and allow peatlands to resume their role as carbon sinks.

Aug 1, 2017 · Peat occurs in wetlands such as bogs, mires, moors, and peatlands. This substance is comprised of partially decaying organic matter, which primarily consists of wetland plants like moss, shrubs, and sedges.