In September, 53 leading experts from 3 continents met to share and build expertise on Sphagnum, the world’s most important peat building plant genus, and gain momentum for global conservation and restoration efforts.
The Trøndelag region in Norway is a global hotspot for Sphagnum (peatmoss) biodiversity and home to more than 50 species. With a humid coastal climate, the diversity of mire types is unique, providing the foundation that supports species diversity in these ecosystems.
A global biodiversity hotspot
Mire and Sphagnum research has strong traditions in Trondheim, with research in the forefront on both Sphagnum taxonomy and mire ecology since the 1970’s.
Trondheim therefore provided the venue for the 8. International Meeting on Sphagnum Biology, hosted by The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and The NTNU University Museum, held on 9. - 13. September 2024.
The meeting gathered the world’s foremost experts from 53 countries to exchange knowledge and discuss new challenges, strengthen the global network of experts, and gain momentum for future global conservation and restoration efforts, says Senior Researcher at NINA Magni Olsen Kyrkjeeide.
With a focus on taxonomy, restoration and general ecology, the meeting also provided a valuable capacity building arena where newcomers benefit greatly from being out in the field with experts willingly sharing their competence.
A carbon capture and storage world champion
Sphagnum is the most important peat building plant genus in the Northern Hemisphere and is essential for ecosystem services and function. The genus also holds the most carbon on a global scale compared to other plant genre. This makes Sphagnum a world champion in a climate change perspective, with peatlands storing more carbon than the tropical rainforests, says Kyrkjeeide.
Despite being irreplaceable carbon storages, we have lost and are constantly losing more Sphagnum habitat and peatlands in general, both globally and in Norway, mostly due to habitat degradation and exploitation. In fact, more than 25 % of the mires in Norway are either drained or lost.
Building crucial expertise
The need for specialized expertise on this highly important plant genus is therefore more important than ever, if we are to collaborate in achieving our biodiversity and climate change related targets, Kyrkjeeide adds.
The experts will meet again in four years.
Relevant read: Kyrkjeeide at al. 2023. Short stories from Sphagnum of rare species, taxonomy, and speciation, Ecology and Evolution
Find out more: The experts’ own blog.
Contact: Magni Olsen Kyrkjeeide