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Sphagnum in peatlands of Australasia: Their distribution, utilisation and management

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Abstract

In comparison to the northern hemisphere, Sphagnum peatlands are an unusual andinfrequent component of the Australasianlandscape. Most peatlands in Australasiaare primarily composed of eitherRestionaceous or Cyperaceous peats. Sphagnum peatlands in Australia and PapuaNew Guinea/Irian Jaya (now West Papua) arelargely located in montane and alpineenvironments, but also occur down to sealevel in New Zealand and as moss patches onsome subantarctic islands. Fire is a majordeterminant of the characteristics ofpeatlands in Australasia. Peatlandmanagement in Australasia is hindered bythe need for increased understanding ofpeatland processes to enable a sustainablebalance of conservation of a small resourcewith localised utilisation. Themanagement focus in Australasia has largelybeen on ensuring ecologically sustainable Sphagnum moss harvesting, withlimited peat mining. We have found thatgeneral recovery of Sphagnum after moss harvesting canbe enhanced by harvesting larger peatlands,and by leaving one-third of the acrotelm toregenerate. The largest upland peat swampin mainland Australia, Wingecarribee Swamp,suffered a major collapse in 1998 followingpeat mining. Environmental and managementconsequences of this collapse have majorramifications for rehabilitation options. Sphagnum peatlands in Australasia arelikely to be adversely affected bydrainage, burning, grazing, trampling,global warming and peat mining.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, GPO Box 44A, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia

    J. Whinam

  2. Research School of Pacific & Asian Studies, Australian National University, Australia

    G.S. Hope

  3. Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd, Australia

    B.R. Clarkson & R.P. Buxton

  4. The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Ltd, Australia

    P.A. Alspach

  5. School of Biological Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australia

    P. Adam

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  1. J. Whinam
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Whinam, J., Hope, G., Clarkson, B. et al. Sphagnum in peatlands of Australasia: Their distribution, utilisation and management. Wetlands Ecology and Management 11, 37–49 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022005504855

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