Feasibility studies
The NOBV conducts research at various locations,
where a range of measures and situations are examined.
The feasibility of measures is dependent on other factors
alongside the effect on peat decomposition. For this reason,
the NOBV has assessed the technical feasibility from various perspectives.
The NOBV focuses on quantifying greenhouse gas emissions in peatland soil and determining measures that will be effective in reducing emissions. The feasibility of measures is dependent on other factors alongside the effect on peat decomposition. For this reason, the NOBV has inventoried the technical and social feasibility of measures from various perspectives, namely: Operational Management, Affordability, Water quantity and water management, Biodiversity, Soil and water quality, Knowledge-sharing and Governance. This research revealed which factors are relevant to feasibility, which knowledge is already available, and which questions still need to be answered in order to make a proper assessment of particular measures. The research has not yet provided an answer to all the questions, but it does provide a clear starting point for new studies and pilots.
In 2021 we organised a series of four webinars around the feasibility studies:
- Operational management and Affordability -> view the webinar here
- Water quantity and water management -> view the webinar here
- Biodiversity, soil and water quality -> view the webinar here
- Governance and water level ordinance/water level management -> view the webinar here
Links to the relevant reports are given below:
- Water quantity and water management (on the effect on water distribution and water availability)
- Biodiversity, soil and water quality (on the impact of biodiversity and water and soil quality)
- Operational management (on the impact on operational management and the transition to a different form of operational management)
- Affordability (on the costs and benefits of measures, at both the company and societal levels)
- Knowledge-sharing (on the knowledge needs of and knowledge-sharing between stakeholders)
- Governance (on the division of roles between stakeholders and the availability of legal instruments). The options with regard to using water level management to prevent subsidence were also considered here.
In these six knowledge exchange studies, the factors influencing the feasibility of measures were determined and an assessment was made of whether sufficient knowledge was available or whether there was a knowledge gap. These studies were conducted in the period June-October 2020. Knowledge development on measures in the peatland region is progressing extremely fast, because knowledge on potential measures is being developed in many different places. Because these developments are so rapid, the most recent developments have not been incorporated into the reports, but they are important to take into account in any further elaboration of the knowledge gaps.