News

By Nancy Goucher

Can-Peat: Peatlands as nature-based climate solutions got down to work at its first annual workshop held in Waterloo, ON at the end of January 2023. The meeting brought together 36 researchers, NGOs, industry, government and Indigenous communities from across Canada to discuss plans for meeting their ambitious goals which include creating a Canadian peatland network, developing a database to house peatland carbon data, advancing peatland carbon models, and identifying mechanisms for implementing peatland nature-based solutions.

The Can-Peat newsletter will be published four times a year. Articles will focus on research updates, upcoming events, and research team profiles.

We also hope to include features and updates from our partners, collaborators, and the broader Canadian peatland community so if you have an idea for article or have a great photo, please get in touch at canpeat@uwaterloo.ca!

Fieldwork is underway for the Can-Peat team! This summer, we have five students working to meet Objectives 2 and 3 of the research proposal, building a national database on peatland carbon stocks, greenhouse gas exchange, and supporting environmental data across Canada. Their research will also advance models of peatland carbon cycling and help evaluate how peatlands respond to climate change and disturbances.

Each year, hundreds of Canadian geoscientists, hydrogeologists, engineers, and researchers come together at CGU to share research and make connections. Last May, Can-Peat researchers had the pleasure of attending the Joint CGU and IAH-CNC (International Association of Hydrogeologists-Canadian National Chapter) Annual Meeting 2026, where they shared new findings and connected with colleagues from across the country. 

When winter breathes carbon back into the atmosphere, how secure are peatlands as carbon sinks? New research suggests the answer depends not only on summer growth, but also on what happens during the cold, often overlooked months. 

In May, members of the Can-Peat research network met with the community-based group For Peat’s Sake (FPS) for a collaborative knowledge exchange focused on peatland stewardship, restoration, and shared learning. The session brought together researchers and local leaders from La Ronge, Saskatchewan, creating space for meaningful dialogue grounded in both citizen and academic scientific research and community experience. 

What if the roads we build could move water as freely as the peatlands they cross? That question energized the session “Minimizing the Impacts of Roads Crossing Peatlands”, where researchers and restoration specialists shared practical solutions, and a vision for smarter infrastructure.

What if we could see Canada’s peatlands, their carbon stocks, disturbances, and restoration potential, layered in a single interactive map? That vision is moving closer to reality through Can‑Peat’s rapidly expanding geospatial initiatives.

Across the Can‑Peat network, researchers are developing an impressive suite of geospatial products that will shape how Canada identifies, protects, and restores peatlands. Rather than working in isolation, these teams are building complementary maps that, together, create a powerful foundation for decision support, climate mitigation, and land‑use planning.

Peatlands store vast amounts of carbon, making them critical for mitigating climate change. However, their ability to act as carbon sinks depends on a delicate balance between carbon uptake and loss. As climate conditions shift and land use pressures increase, particularly in western Canada, there is growing uncertainty around whether these systems will continue to store carbon or begin releasing it. Understanding how peatlands respond to disturbance and hydrological change is essential for predicting their future role in the global carbon cycle and informing sustainable land management.

The Can-Peat network’s December 2025 sharing session offered a lively glimpse into the realities of peatland research and restoration, creating a space where seasoned researchers, students, and practitioners could swap stories from the field, compare methods, and celebrate both successes and challenges. Rather than formal presentations, the session leaned into the joy of shared experience, highlighting how field seasons shape research questions, collaborations, and community connections.