News

The importance of data availability in research is widely recognized and is improving through initiatives such as the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy and the adaptation of FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles. However, the effectiveness of these initiatives and impacts on data availability in peatland research have not yet been studied. In this study, the objective was to quantify the current state of peatland data availability in literature to better inform future initiatives.

Agricultural drainage has transformed many peatlands across North America, creating challenges for climate regulation, biodiversity, and water quality. During the September 2026 Can-Peat knowledge sharing session, researchers from Michigan Technological University shared lessons from the PeatRestore Project, a U.S.-based initiative focused on restoring peatlands in agricultural landscapes. A key theme throughout the session was that restoring hydrology is only the first step in what is often a long and complex ecological recovery process.

Can-Peat Principal Investigator Dr. Maria Strack recently contributed an article to The Conversation Canada examining the ongoing push for resource development and its potential impact on Canada’s boreal forest, a region with extensive peatland cover.