Centre of Excellence in Peatlands, Climate Change and Ecological Restoration

Tuittila, Eeva-Stiina UEF; Aalto, Tuula FMI; Lohila, Annalea FMI; Rautiainen, Miina AU; Väliranta, Minna UH

The Centre of Excellence in Peatlands, Climate Change and Restoration studies the ongoing change in northern peatlands: how climate change impacts their biodiversity and climate response, and how upcoming large-scale restoration in Finland and elsewhere in Europe will affect them. The CoE also examines how to make informed decisions on restoration if its impacts on biodiversity and climate conflict. In its research, the unit combines long time series, palaeoecology, remote sensing, experimental ecological research, modelling and disaggregative decision support methods in a novel and original way.

The research will be carried out as a joint project of researchers operating at the Universities of Eastern Finland, Helsinki and Aalto and the Finnish Meteorological Institute, and in close cooperation with leading international researchers and stakeholders. The CoE will educate new experts to solve problems that require multidisciplinary understanding.