wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group
wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group
wise use of mires and peatlands - Peatland Ecology Research Group
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60 VALUES AND FUCTIONS OF MIRES AND PEATLANDSA second important <strong>use</strong> - especially in thetemperate <strong>and</strong> boreal zones <strong>of</strong> Eurasia - is thecollection <strong>of</strong> a wide variety <strong>of</strong> wild edibleberries <strong>and</strong> mushrooms that are preserved <strong>and</strong>dried <strong>and</strong> provide substantial food <strong>and</strong>vitamins in the winter period. With 100 mg inevery 100 g <strong>of</strong> berries, cloudberry (Rubuschamaemorus) has for centuries been animportant source <strong>of</strong> vitamin C for theinhabitants <strong>of</strong> Fennosc<strong>and</strong>ia <strong>and</strong> helped tokeep them free <strong>of</strong> scurvy. Other edible berriescommon on <strong>mires</strong> <strong>and</strong> peatl<strong>and</strong>s includecranberries (Oxycoccus), a whole range <strong>of</strong>blueberry (Vaccinium) species, crowberries(Empetrum), raspberries <strong>and</strong> brambles(Rubus) <strong>and</strong> currants (Ribes). In good berryyears, about 12 million kilogrammes <strong>of</strong> berriesare picked from <strong>mires</strong> in Finl<strong>and</strong> (7.8% <strong>of</strong> thebiological yield). It has been estimated thatin a normal year the monetary value <strong>of</strong> wildberries collected from Finnish peatl<strong>and</strong>s isUS$ 13.4 million.Before the emergence <strong>of</strong> rice, wild sago(Metroxylon sagu) was the main source <strong>of</strong>sustenance for the inhabitants <strong>of</strong> the Malayarchipelago region. Desiccated productsmade from sago starch can be stored forexceptionally long periods <strong>and</strong> enabled theearly inhabitants <strong>of</strong> the Malay archipelago totravel far <strong>and</strong> to colonise many isl<strong>and</strong>s 79 .Wild rice (Zizania aquatica) was an importantstaple crop gathered by native Americans.Currently most production takes place inregular agriculture (see § (ea) below).In Europe the peatl<strong>and</strong> species Menyanthestrifoliata, Acorus calamus, <strong>and</strong> Hierochloeodorata are <strong>use</strong>d for flavouring drinks 80Utilisation Vegetation Harvest QualityIn Mowing, Wet meadows, reeds Early summer +agriculture fodderGrazing Wet meadows, reeds Whole year +Litter Carex-meadows, reeds Summer -Compost Wet meadows, reeds Late summer -Pellets Wet meadows, reeds Early summer +Industrial Ro<strong>of</strong>ing Reeds Winter +materialForm-bodies Wet meadows, reeds Autumn/winter 0Paper Phalaris-reeds, Winter 0(cellulose) Phragmites reedsBasket-wares Willow (Salix) Autumn +Furniture/timber Alder (Alnus) swamps Frost +Chemicals Reeds Early summer +Energy Pyrolysis Alder swamps, willow Winter 0Direct firing Alder swamps, reeds Autumn/winter -Fermentation Wet meadows, reeds Early summer 0Table 3/9: Examples <strong>of</strong> biomass utilisation from undrained peatl<strong>and</strong>s (dem<strong>and</strong> for quality:+ = high. 0 = medium, - = low 87 )
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