From landscapes to freshwater invertebrates: understanding the effects of peatland restoraiton on Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) habitat in the Flow Country.

Well-managed peatland restoration does not cause lasting harm to freshwater ecosystems, even when short-term water quality challenges arise. A study in the Flow Country, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 400,000 hectares of peat bog, found that forest-to-bog restoration efforts led to temporary changes in water quality—such as nutrient levels and dissolved organic carbon—in smaller streams over the first three years, but these effects diminished over a decade. No significant ecological impacts on macroinvertebrates or Atlantic salmon populations were detected, and larger rivers maintained high water quality standards due to downstream dilution. The research highlights the importance of adaptive management and long-term monitoring in restoration projects, while also emphasizing climate change as a critical threat to cold-adapted species like salmon.

Godwin, L. J., Andersen, R., Gaffney, P., Hancock, M., Youngson, A., & Geris, J. (2025). From landscapes to freshwater invertebrates: understanding the effects of peatland restoraiton on Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) habitat in the Flow Country. https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-1487