In some parts of the world, like Canada, peatlands are dug-up and the peat-soil is used to make compost for the horticultural industry.
In an effort to resolve the conflict in these places between the environmental impacts and the economical use of peatlands, a restoration method for bogs has been developed, enabling the eventual return of the ecological and carbon accumulating function of peatlands.
This fully funded PhD at 鶹AV will look at ways of developing our understanding of peatland science to improve this restoration and protection process.
Dr Christian Dunn, who is leading the project said: "In places where peat has historically, or is still, dug up we need to do everything we can to help restore and protect these unique habitats.
Peatlands only cover about three percent of the earth’s surface yet they store at least twice the amount of carbon than all the world’s forests.
We need to make sure as much of that carbon stays locked up in peatlands as possible and that peatlands which are harvested for peat - in the parts of the world that allows this activity - get back to storing carbon as quickly as possible.
This PhD will work with academics and industry partners to look at how we can get peatlands in Canada to store and capture the most amount of carbon possible.”
“This will involve looking at the microbial and enzymic activity in the peat and stopping the decomposition process, which ultimately releases the carbon and prevents the build-up of peat-soil,” Dr Dunn added.
This three-year research studentship is funded by the Premier Horticulture Limited and provides a standard annual stipend (2023/24 rate, indexed annually) and all academic fees are covered. If you are interested in finding out more about this PhD: Developing methods to maximise carbon sequestration in peatlands, then please visit: