The Fen that Vanished: The Untold Story of Drainage and Peat Extraction in Bagno Chlebowo Peatland - Implications for Nature Conservation

Peatlands are among the most rapidly disappearing ecosystems worldwide, particularly over the past two centuries as an effect of intensifying human activities. Peatlands have often been drained to facilitate agriculture, forestry, and peat extraction. One of the most heavily degraded peatlands in western Poland is the Bagno Chlebowo peatland, only a small portion of which holds legal protection as a raised bog. Despite its designation as a protected area since 1959, drainage and peat extraction—ongoing since the 19th century—continue to undermine the ecological integrity of the site. This study aims to reconstruct the effects of human activity on the peatland's condition over the past 600 years. Using palaeoecological methods, we traced historical changes in water table levels, trophic conditions (pH), and local plant communities. Historical maps were also analyzed to document changes in land use and land cover. Our results highlight that drainage and peat mining have significantly altered the peatland's pH, favouring the proliferation of Sphagnum. These shifts in vegetation and increased acidity complicate the classification of the peatland, raising doubts about its current designation as a raised bog. Instead, the palaeoecological evidence suggests that the site functioned as a fen for much of its history. This research underscores the importance of long-term reconstructions in peatland conservation efforts to (1) accurately assess ecosystem status, (2) identify historical baselines, and (3) design appropriate restoration and management strategies for highly disturbed sites.

The study was supported by National Science Centre, Poland (grants 2020/39/D/ST10/00641, 2023/07/X/ST10/00536) and Research University-Excellence Initiative AMU (grant 034/34/UAM/0027).