Geography NEA
Greenhead College
Name: Noor Ul Ann Chaudhry
Title: To what extent is peat bog restoration of Fiavè biotope more influential than a orestation in
Fiavè woodland for combating climate change?
(AI Canva, 2025)
,Contents
Planning, purpose, and introduction ..........................................................................................2
Aim: .........................................................................................................................................2
Link to Spec: ............................................................................................................................2
Wider context: ..........................................................................................................................2
Research questions: .................................................................................................................3
Location:..................................................................................................................................5
Plan: ........................................................................................................................................6
Methods and sampling ...............................................................................................................8
RQ1: ........................................................................................................................................9
RQ2: ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Data presentation, analysis and explanation ........................................................................... 15
Research question 1: How do the carbon storage capacities of peat bog and Doss woodland di er
in the Fiavè area? ....................................................................................................................... 15
Research question 2: What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of peat bog restoration
compared to a orestation and how do people perceive these strategies ...................................... 22
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 32
Overall conclusion:................................................................................................................. 32
Wider context: ........................................................................................................................ 33
People of interest: .................................................................................................................. 34
Evaluation ................................................................................................................................ 36
RQ1: ...................................................................................................................................... 36
RQ2: ...................................................................................................................................... 37
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 39
Appendix .................................................................................................................................. 42
Planning sheets: ..................................................................................................................... 42
Literature review: .................................................................................................................... 43
Data recording sheets:............................................................................................................ 45
Calculations for stats test: ...................................................................................................... 50
Maps, charts and spreadsheets: ............................................................................................. 52
1
, Planning, purpose, and introduction
Title: To what extent is peat bog restoration of Fiavè biotope more influential than a orestation in
Fiavè woodland for combating climate change?
Aim: The overall aim of this investigation is to determine which method between peat bog
restoration and a orestation is more e ective at reducing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and
as a result, plays a greater role in tackling climate change.
Link to Spec: This investigation links to Topic 1.2 of the OCR A Level Geography specification:
Earth’s Life Support Systems, specifically Key Idea 1.c: “The carbon and water cycles have
distinctive processes and pathways that operate within them.” Relevant content includes: “The
processes of the carbon cycle, including photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion
(including natural and fossil fuel use), and natural sequestration in oceans, vegetation, sediments,
and weathering.” This links to my investigation as it helps to understand how peat bogs and forests
sequester carbon in di erent ways. Peat bogs mainly do this by slow decomposition and preserving
organic matter, while forests absorb the carbon through processes such as photosynthesis and
store it in the biomass. This key idea will then help me to assess which of the two methods is more
e ective in tackling climate change.
The investigation also links to Key Idea 4.b: “The global implications of water and carbon
management,” which includes: “Global management strategies to protect the carbon cycle as
regulator of the Earth’s climate, including a orestation, wetland restoration, improving agricultural
practices and reducing emissions (including carbon trading and international agreements).” This
directly links to my investigation as it compares two main strategies that can help reduce the
carbon in the atmosphere, consequently helping to protect the carbon cycle and mitigate climate
change. (OCR, 2025)
Wider context: The wider geographical issue surrounding my investigation is climate change which
refers to the long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns, particularly an increase in
average global temperatures since the pre-industrial period. It is primarily driven by rising
concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous
oxide (N₂O), in the atmosphere, which trap heat from solar radiation through the enhanced
greenhouse e ect. These emissions largely result from anthropogenic activities, including the
combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation and intensive farming. Scientists study climate change
because it is widely regarded as one of the most critical present global challenges, not only
because of its environmental impacts, such as sea level rise, extreme weather events, and loss of
biodiversity, but also because of its socioeconomic and geopolitical consequences, including
threats to water and food security, increased frequency of climate-related conflicts, and large-scale
migration or climate-induced displacement. (Gariwo, 2015).
2
, According to the European Copernicus Climate Service, 2024 was the first calendar year to pass
the symbolic threshold, as well as the world's hottest on record (Poynting, Rivault, & Dale, 2025).
Furthermore, based on the annual analysis from NOAA’s Global Monitoring Lab a new record was
set in 2024 where the global atmospheric carbon dioxide reached 422.8 parts per million. In the
1960s, atmospheric carbon dioxide increased by about 0.8 ppm per year on average. That growth
rate doubled to an average of 1.6 ppm per year in the 1980s and 1.5 ppm per year in the 1990s. In
the last decade (2015–2024), the annual increase has accelerated to 2.6 ppm per year. As a result,
the annual rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years is 100–200 times
faster than the increase that occurred at the end of the last ice age 11,000–17,000 years
ago. (Lindsey, 2025).
The idea of whether peat bog restoration or a orestation is more e ective for fighting climate
change is a current controversial debate because governments and experts disagree on what
approach is best. Both strategies help to reduce carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but they work
in di erent ways. Peat bogs can store carbon within the wet soil for thousands of years whereas
trees absorb it as they grow. Some scientists believe that protecting and restoring them is most
e ective because of their long-term carbon storage. However, others believe that a orestation is
more important as it can increase tree cover, help to maintain wildlife and help to meet some of the
climate targets. The debate is controversial as di erent authorities disagree on which strategy
should receive more funding and support. In Italy and other parts of Europe laws like the EU nature
restoration law state that both strategies should be equally considered and groups like ISPRA
(Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale) explain that the choice depends on
the personal goals and long-term e ects of di erent local areas. (ISPRA Istituto Superiore per la
Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, 2025)
Research questions:
RQ1: How do the carbon storage capacities of peat bog and Doss woodland di er in the
Fiavè area?
RQ2: What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of peat bog restoration compared
to a orestation and how do people perceive these strategies?
Overall, in relation to the aim of the investigation it is expected that peat bog restoration will have a
greater long-term impact than a orestation. In research question one I expect to find that the peat
bog in Fiavè will have higher carbon storing capacities than the woodland in Fiavè. This is because
peat bogs (densely vegetated and partially degraded wetlands where when a plant dies, the
waterlogged conditions and acidity of the bog prevent it from completely decomposing) store
almost 1500 Gt (billion tonnes) of carbon compared to 660 Gt (billion tonnes) in biomass. This
makes them one of the most e ective natural carbon sinks (anything that absorbs more carbon
from the atmosphere than it releases) that according to the UN Environment Program can store
twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests despite covering only 3% of land surface. (UN
Environment Program, 2019) Furthermore, the IUCN UK Peatland Programme says that both
peatlands and native woodlands are important for controlling climate change and supporting
3
Greenhead College
Name: Noor Ul Ann Chaudhry
Title: To what extent is peat bog restoration of Fiavè biotope more influential than a orestation in
Fiavè woodland for combating climate change?
(AI Canva, 2025)
,Contents
Planning, purpose, and introduction ..........................................................................................2
Aim: .........................................................................................................................................2
Link to Spec: ............................................................................................................................2
Wider context: ..........................................................................................................................2
Research questions: .................................................................................................................3
Location:..................................................................................................................................5
Plan: ........................................................................................................................................6
Methods and sampling ...............................................................................................................8
RQ1: ........................................................................................................................................9
RQ2: ...................................................................................................................................... 12
Data presentation, analysis and explanation ........................................................................... 15
Research question 1: How do the carbon storage capacities of peat bog and Doss woodland di er
in the Fiavè area? ....................................................................................................................... 15
Research question 2: What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of peat bog restoration
compared to a orestation and how do people perceive these strategies ...................................... 22
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 32
Overall conclusion:................................................................................................................. 32
Wider context: ........................................................................................................................ 33
People of interest: .................................................................................................................. 34
Evaluation ................................................................................................................................ 36
RQ1: ...................................................................................................................................... 36
RQ2: ...................................................................................................................................... 37
Bibliography ............................................................................................................................. 39
Appendix .................................................................................................................................. 42
Planning sheets: ..................................................................................................................... 42
Literature review: .................................................................................................................... 43
Data recording sheets:............................................................................................................ 45
Calculations for stats test: ...................................................................................................... 50
Maps, charts and spreadsheets: ............................................................................................. 52
1
, Planning, purpose, and introduction
Title: To what extent is peat bog restoration of Fiavè biotope more influential than a orestation in
Fiavè woodland for combating climate change?
Aim: The overall aim of this investigation is to determine which method between peat bog
restoration and a orestation is more e ective at reducing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and
as a result, plays a greater role in tackling climate change.
Link to Spec: This investigation links to Topic 1.2 of the OCR A Level Geography specification:
Earth’s Life Support Systems, specifically Key Idea 1.c: “The carbon and water cycles have
distinctive processes and pathways that operate within them.” Relevant content includes: “The
processes of the carbon cycle, including photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, combustion
(including natural and fossil fuel use), and natural sequestration in oceans, vegetation, sediments,
and weathering.” This links to my investigation as it helps to understand how peat bogs and forests
sequester carbon in di erent ways. Peat bogs mainly do this by slow decomposition and preserving
organic matter, while forests absorb the carbon through processes such as photosynthesis and
store it in the biomass. This key idea will then help me to assess which of the two methods is more
e ective in tackling climate change.
The investigation also links to Key Idea 4.b: “The global implications of water and carbon
management,” which includes: “Global management strategies to protect the carbon cycle as
regulator of the Earth’s climate, including a orestation, wetland restoration, improving agricultural
practices and reducing emissions (including carbon trading and international agreements).” This
directly links to my investigation as it compares two main strategies that can help reduce the
carbon in the atmosphere, consequently helping to protect the carbon cycle and mitigate climate
change. (OCR, 2025)
Wider context: The wider geographical issue surrounding my investigation is climate change which
refers to the long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns, particularly an increase in
average global temperatures since the pre-industrial period. It is primarily driven by rising
concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous
oxide (N₂O), in the atmosphere, which trap heat from solar radiation through the enhanced
greenhouse e ect. These emissions largely result from anthropogenic activities, including the
combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation and intensive farming. Scientists study climate change
because it is widely regarded as one of the most critical present global challenges, not only
because of its environmental impacts, such as sea level rise, extreme weather events, and loss of
biodiversity, but also because of its socioeconomic and geopolitical consequences, including
threats to water and food security, increased frequency of climate-related conflicts, and large-scale
migration or climate-induced displacement. (Gariwo, 2015).
2
, According to the European Copernicus Climate Service, 2024 was the first calendar year to pass
the symbolic threshold, as well as the world's hottest on record (Poynting, Rivault, & Dale, 2025).
Furthermore, based on the annual analysis from NOAA’s Global Monitoring Lab a new record was
set in 2024 where the global atmospheric carbon dioxide reached 422.8 parts per million. In the
1960s, atmospheric carbon dioxide increased by about 0.8 ppm per year on average. That growth
rate doubled to an average of 1.6 ppm per year in the 1980s and 1.5 ppm per year in the 1990s. In
the last decade (2015–2024), the annual increase has accelerated to 2.6 ppm per year. As a result,
the annual rate of increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the past 60 years is 100–200 times
faster than the increase that occurred at the end of the last ice age 11,000–17,000 years
ago. (Lindsey, 2025).
The idea of whether peat bog restoration or a orestation is more e ective for fighting climate
change is a current controversial debate because governments and experts disagree on what
approach is best. Both strategies help to reduce carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but they work
in di erent ways. Peat bogs can store carbon within the wet soil for thousands of years whereas
trees absorb it as they grow. Some scientists believe that protecting and restoring them is most
e ective because of their long-term carbon storage. However, others believe that a orestation is
more important as it can increase tree cover, help to maintain wildlife and help to meet some of the
climate targets. The debate is controversial as di erent authorities disagree on which strategy
should receive more funding and support. In Italy and other parts of Europe laws like the EU nature
restoration law state that both strategies should be equally considered and groups like ISPRA
(Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale) explain that the choice depends on
the personal goals and long-term e ects of di erent local areas. (ISPRA Istituto Superiore per la
Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale, 2025)
Research questions:
RQ1: How do the carbon storage capacities of peat bog and Doss woodland di er in the
Fiavè area?
RQ2: What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of peat bog restoration compared
to a orestation and how do people perceive these strategies?
Overall, in relation to the aim of the investigation it is expected that peat bog restoration will have a
greater long-term impact than a orestation. In research question one I expect to find that the peat
bog in Fiavè will have higher carbon storing capacities than the woodland in Fiavè. This is because
peat bogs (densely vegetated and partially degraded wetlands where when a plant dies, the
waterlogged conditions and acidity of the bog prevent it from completely decomposing) store
almost 1500 Gt (billion tonnes) of carbon compared to 660 Gt (billion tonnes) in biomass. This
makes them one of the most e ective natural carbon sinks (anything that absorbs more carbon
from the atmosphere than it releases) that according to the UN Environment Program can store
twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests despite covering only 3% of land surface. (UN
Environment Program, 2019) Furthermore, the IUCN UK Peatland Programme says that both
peatlands and native woodlands are important for controlling climate change and supporting
3
