First Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Austrian Peatlands under Different Land Management Intensities

In Austria, peatlands cover an area of approximately 44,400 ha. Of these, two-thirds are drained and used for agriculture and thus are potential hotspots for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This highlights the need for accurate GHG accounting and reporting. However, only Tier 1 IPCC emission factors are currently in use for Austrian peatlands, as the exact GHG balance is still unknown and is estimated using data from other countries. This creates substantial uncertainty, especially since Austria is home to a variety of peatland types with different characteristics and land management practices.

As part of the EU-funded LIFE project AMooRE (Austrian Moor Restoration), this research aims to fill this gap and assess, for the first time, the impact of different land management intensities on the emissions of CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O in Austrian peatlands. A particular focus is placed on grassland management, as this is the most common practice in Austria, and on the benefits of extensification in reducing GHG emissions. By gaining an improved understanding of the relationship between abiotic factors, human management and GHG dynamics, the objective is to generate Tier 3 IPCC emission factors for Austrian peatlands subjected to varying land management intensities and therefore provide valuable data for national GHG accounting and the implementation of mitigation strategies.

Using manual dynamic gas flux chambers connected to portable CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O gas analysers, field measurements are being conducted at five sites along a land management intensity and hydrological gradient in the Wörschacher and Irdninger Moor (Styria, Austria) over a two-year period, from January 2025 to December 2026. To complement gas flux data, meteorological conditions, important soil and hydrological parameters, and vegetation dynamics are being monitored continuously at all sites. Here we present the status of our research, including preliminary results and first modelling approaches. Initial findings show clear differences between the sites, with CO₂ and CH₄ emissions showing opposing behaviours and gradually changing along the gradient and clear N₂O emission peaks after fertilisation events. Our results provide insights into the spatio-temporal variability in GHG fluxes of Austrian peatlands across different management intensities, highlighting the management role in influencing the dynamics of CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O fluxes.