Estimating carbon emissions from peatland fires at Kaimaumau–Motutangi and Awarua wetlands
- Author
- Jack Pronger, Robbie Price, Jan Schindler, Hugh Robertson, Dave West
- Year
- 2024
- Journal / Source
- Manaaki Whenua LandCare Research report prepared for Department of Conservation
- Volume
- contract report: LC4517
- Pages
- 36 pp
- Summary
- The Department of Conservation (DOC) is responsible for administering extensive areas of peatlands on public conservation land, including at Kaimaumau–Motutangi (hereafter Kaimaumau) wetland in Northland and at Awarua wetland in Southland. Both of these wetlands have very high ecological and cultural values and are part of the Department’s Arawai Kākāriki Wetland Restoration Programme. • Extensive peatland fires occurred at Kaimaumau and Awarua wetlands in 2022. The direct impacts of the fires included loss of soil carbon (C) and the loss of vegetation and habitat for indigenous species. As a result, the fires have contributed to atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and a decline in wetland values.