- The Marchiennes peat bog in the North will be classified as a national nature reserve within two years.
- This project is linked to the "Life Anthropofens" program, which allocates 18.7 million euros to the restoration of numerous peat bogs.
- These peat bogs are essential biotopes for the protection of water and air quality.
Renaissance of peat bogs in Hauts-de-France. The Marchiennes bog will be classified as a national nature reserve (RNN) within two years. True grail of environmental protection, the label was obtained, not without effort, by the Conservatory of natural spaces (CEN) of Picardy thanks to the repurchase of the site to a private owner, on December 26th.
This new status offers the Marchiennes peat bog a restoration program spread over a period of six years. An unprecedented operation in the region. Considered "a jewel of nature in France" by Vincent Santune, director of the CEN of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, this bog shelters very rare endemic species, such as the frog of the fields or the spider dolomede.
Peatlands, fragile pollution traps
The program also highlights the importance of preserving peatlands from an ecological point of view. Characterized by peat (an accumulation of organic matter in the soil with little or no decomposition), these wetlands are indeed formidable biotopes with depolluting properties.
Peatlands are endangered yet very precious ecosystems, both for playing the role of water purifying filters, but also for serving as carbon captors in the form of CO2 or methane. “Our role is to perpetuate these refuges of biodiversity, also pollution traps”, comments Vincent Santune.
In fact, an active peat bog can contain up to 1,400 tonnes of carbon per hectare, ten times more than a typical forest. A "time bomb" if you don't maintain them. "It is better to prevent than to cure, that is to say to respond to the current climate emergency," says Mathieu James, manager of the "Life Anthropofens" * project at CEN in Picardy.
"Life Anthropofens", the 18.7 million euro project
This large-scale project, which includes the Marchiennes site, aims to rehabilitate peatlands in the Hauts-de-France, but also in Belgium. Again, this is a first because never before has an environmental program mobilized so many financial resources from Europe.
A budget of 18.7 million euros is allocated to allow deforestation work, scientific studies, or even the relocation of certain vegetation. As for peatlands, they will be more closely controlled so that they no longer harm the territory.
Sustain peatlands and save money
"In all, 4.8 km² of territory, from the Oise to Belgium, will be restored," explains Mathieu James. This includes six different peatland habitats, essential for France and all of Europe. "
The stake is doubly important: both ecological, but also financial, if we consider that one hectare of peatland is equivalent to 150,000 euros in terms of carbon sequestration. "We hope to set an example for other territories," concludes Mathieu James.
* The project is supported by the Department of Oise, the conservatory of natural spaces in the North and Pas-de-Calais, the Oise Aronde joint union, the Baie Somme joint union, the Scarpe-Escaut regional nature park, the coastal conservatory, the Natagora association, the peat-relay center and the national botanical conservatory of Bailleul .
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