Ecological characterisation of peatlands and coastal lagoons in Europe

Summary

This report is the response to a policy request submitted by DG Environment to the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) through the KCBD ticketing system. KCBD assigned this to the BioAgora project, to be answered by the Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD). European wetlands, including peatlands and coastal lagoons, are among the most valuable yet degraded ecosystems, with up to 80% lost over the past century and more than half of peatlands already drained. Despite their limited extent, peatlands store nearly one-third of global soil carbon, while coastal lagoons occupy ~13% of the world’s coastline and sustain highly productive and biodiverse systems. The report identifies hydrology as the key control on ecosystem functioning, showing that drainage, land-use change, and nutrient enrichment trigger cascading and often irreversible degradation, turning carbon sinks into major emission sources. It highlights that no single indicator can capture ecosystem condition, and that effective assessment requires integrated, multi-scale frameworks combining Earth Observation with in-situ data. These findings provide a critical scientific basis for implementing EU policies — including the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), and Nature Restoration Regulation (2024/1991) — supporting harmonised monitoring, restoration prioritisation, and evidence-based decision-making.