Comment on: “Peatland carbon stocks and burn history: Blanket bog peat core evidence highlights charcoal impacts on peat physical properties and long-term carbon storage”, by A. Heinemeyer, Q. Asena, W.L. Burn and A.L. Jones (Geo: Geography and Environment. 2018; e00063)

Evans, C.D. et al. (2019) Comment on: “Peatland carbon stocks and burn history: Blanket bog peat core evidence highlights charcoal impacts on peat physical properties and long-term carbon storage”, by A. Heinemeyer, Q. Asena, W.L. Burn and A.L. Jones (Geo: Geography and Environment. 2018; e00063). Geo: Geography and Environment, 6(1), e00075. (doi: 10.1002/geo2.75)

Abstract

A recent paper by Heinemeyer et al. (2018) in this journal has suggested that the use of prescribed fire may enhance carbon accumulation in UK upland blanket bogs. We challenge this finding based on a number of concerns with the original manuscript including the lack of an unburned control, insufficient replication, unrecognised potential confounding factors, and potentially large inaccuracies in the core dating approach used to calculate carbon accumulation rates. We argue that burn‐management of peatlands is more likely to lead to carbon loss than carbon gain.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Garnett, Dr Mark
• Authors: Evans, C.D., Baird, A.J., Green, S.M., Page, S.E., Peacock, M., Reed, M.S., Rose, N.L., Stoneman, R., Thom, T.J., Young, D.M., and Garnett, M. H.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
• Journal Name: Geo: Geography and Environment
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 2054-4049
• ISSN (Online): 2054-4049
• Published Online: 19 June 2019
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Geo: Geography and Environment 6(1):e00075
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license