ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND ECONOMIC RATIONALE FOR THE RECLAMATION OF DRAINED PEATLANDS

From sequestering and storing carbon to purifying water and maintaining a treasure trove of biodiversity, peatlands benefit people, wildlife and the environment in a myriad of ways. And although they occupy only about 3% of the earth's surface, the ecosystem services that peatlands provide and the positive impact they have on our planet more than justify their support and our diligent care for them. Covering more than 400 million hectares worldwide, peatlands can be found anywhere from high mountains to the sea, from high to low latitudes. They are a type of wetlands - ecosystems with peat soil. Peatlands provide important ecosystem services that contribute to the well-being of people and the natural environment. The drained peatlands are extremely diverse and heterogeneous in their condition. This is due to the use of different methods of peat extraction, the timing of sites being decommissioned, the state of the drainage system, the type of deposit, the strength of the residual layer of peat and its properties, the properties of the mineral rocks underlying the peat deposit, etc. When choosing the direction of use of VTR, all the above factors must be considered in a complex manner. Rewetting at least two-thirds of drained peatlands, or 30 million hectares, could help prevent the combined human land-use practices in these areas from becoming a source of net carbon emissions. • Re-wetting of peatlands can significantly contribute to the achievement of ecosystem goals. Drained peatlands are extremely diverse and heterogeneous in their condition. This is due to the use of other methods of peat extraction, the conditions of the decommissioned site, the condition of the drainage system, the type of deposit, the strength of the residual layer of peat and its properties, the properties of the useful mineral rock underlying the peat deposit, etc. On the basis of scientific research, materials are presented that confirm the possibility of using produced peat deposits taking into account their natural properties.