{"id":6,"date":"2024-04-04T09:08:02","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T06:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/news-0\/"},"modified":"2025-07-08T15:22:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T12:22:44","slug":"news-0","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/news-0\/","title":{"rendered":"News"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/td><\/td>The INTECOL Wetlands 2025 Conference was held in Tartu, Estonia, from June 30 to July 5, 2025.<\/strong>
https:\/\/intecolwetlands2025.ee\/<\/a>

The PeatlandN\u2082O team was actively involved in the preparation phase\u2014selecting abstracts, organizing the agenda, and coordinating technical tours.
And of course, we also contributed with talks and posters. In the photo, Prof. \u00dclo Mander is delivering his intriguing presentation on Anthro-Natural Ecosystems. We\u2019re also proud to share that our PhD student, Laura Kuusemets, received the\u00a0Young Scientist Poster Award<\/strong>\u2014a well-deserved recognition!

The conference featured several technical tours, including a visit to the PeatlandN\u2082O research facility in Agali<\/strong>.<\/td><\/tr>
Before the INTECOL Wetlands 2025 Conference in Tartu, Estonia, the Extended Knowledge Board (EKB)<\/strong> held a productive meeting with the PeatlanN\u2082O project team<\/strong> on 28 June 2025.
EKB members Christoph M\u00fcller, Mari Pihlatie, Lulie Melling, Kristell Hergoualc\u2019h, and Angela Gallego-Sala, along with invited guests \u2013 Anvi Malhotra and Etienne Fluet-Chouinard, delivered inspiring presentations on their research in tropical and boreal peatlands. This was followed by presentations from PeatlanN\u2082O project team members on the current status of the project. The discussion focused on data collection, analysis, and modelling.
Following the seminar, we embarked on a field trip to one of the research stations in Sinik\u00fcla. It was a challenging yet rewarding experience! After Sinik\u00fcla, we visited the M\u00e4nnikj\u00e4rve bog, which is spectacular in every season.
https:\/\/intecolwetlands2025.ee\/<\/a><\/td>		<\/td>\"\"<\/td><\/tr>
EGU<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
February, 2025
Installation of the closed-path Eddy Covariance (EC) system in Betong<\/strong> (Sarawak, Malaysia) on an oil palm plantation. It includes the EC tower, 3D anemometer and device \u00a0for sucking air to the laser analyzer, MIRO laser analyzer system in its closure on the EC tower, all powered by solar panels. <\/td>		<\/td>\"\"<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td>February, 2025
Also Prof \u00dclo Mander and Assoc Prof Kaido Soosaar
participated in a seminar of the LiWeFor project in the Tropical Peat Research Institute, Kuching, Sarawak<\/strong>. The seminar was dedicated to a global initiative to establish Living Labs for wetland forest research. The presentations highlighted groundbreaking studies on GHG emissions, land-use impacts, and carbon cycling in tropical peatland ecosystems.

https:\/\/dayakdaily.com\/14-research-presentations-on-wetland-forests-including-sarawaks-peatlands-featured-in-liwefor-seminar-2025\/
<\/td><\/tr>
AGU2024 Annual Meeting<\/strong> in Washington, D.C., USA, 9-13 Dec 2024\u00a0(ca. 30000 participants) was very fruitful in terms of the dissemination of our research
https:\/\/www.agu.org\/annual-meeting<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0.
We convened sessions: B51J and B54B \u2013 Linking Greenhouse Gas, Volatile Organic Compound, and Climatic Processes Across Interfaces in Different Terrestrial Ecosystems, Highlighting Tropical Wetlands; \u00a0and delivered one oral presentations and three posters.<\/td>		<\/td>\"\"

Oral presentation:
https:\/\/agu.confex.com\/agu\/agu24\/meetingapp.cgi\/Paper\/1758674<\/a>
Poster presentation:
https:\/\/agu.confex.com\/agu\/agu24\/meetingapp.cgi\/Paper\/1602240<\/a>
https:\/\/agu.confex.com\/agu\/agu24\/meetingapp.cgi\/Paper\/1612333<\/a>
https:\/\/agu.confex.com\/agu\/agu24\/meetingapp.cgi\/Paper\/1664080<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td>Novenber, 2024
PeatlandN2O project\u2019s research was presented at the 18th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control <\/strong>25th-29th \u00a0November, 2024 in Fort-de-France, Martinique by Assoc. Prof Mikk Espenberg and Prof \u00dclo Mander.
<\/td><\/tr>
November, 2024
PeatlandN2O project\u2019s second expedition to \u202fEpena, Republic of Congo<\/strong>, took place in 12th-26th November 2024. The goal of the expedition was to repeat the measurements and collect samples during the rainy season. Assoc. Prof. Jaan P\u00e4rn and PhD student Laura Kuusemets were responsible for the tasks.\u00a0
On the photos Laura and Jaan collecting samples in tropical swamp forest. Water level was in some places ca 1m high.

Photos: Mythys Nicolas,
Documentary, corporate and outdoor photography, nicolasmathys.com<\/td>		<\/td>\"\"<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td>October, 2024
The 2nd International Conference on Tropical Sciences<\/strong> (TropSci2024) took place in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia at 16-17 October\u201924 https:\/\/tropicalsciencefoundation.org\/tropsc2024\/<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0
Over 500 scientists gathered for this multidisciplinary conference to discuss policy issues and scientific findings for harmonising humanity with nature in the Tropics.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
Prof. \u00dclo Mander delivered his plenary talk on greenhouse gas emissions in tropical peatland forests.\u202f Also, Assoc Prof-s Mikk Espenberg, Kaido Soosaar and Jaan P\u00e4rn presented their research on GHG emissions and microbial nitrogen cycle in tropical wetlands.\u00a0
\u00a0
The conference was followed by an expedition in the Maludam natural swamp forest<\/strong>, where samples of soil (microbial) and measurements of gases from soil and tree trunks were collected. Then, scientists visited several oil palm plantations in Betong<\/strong> where GHG fluxes, environmental and soil parameters were also measured.\u00a0<\/td><\/tr>
August, 2024

Reti Ranniku<\/strong> defended her PhD thesis titled \u201cImpact of environmental conditions and soil microbiome on greenhouse gas fluxes from soil and tree stems in hemiboreal drained peatland forest<\/strong>\u201c.
In this thesis, she studied seasonal patterns of soil and tree stem greenhouse gas (CH\u2084, N\u2082O and CO\u2082) fluxes in a hemiboreal drained peatland forest, focusing more closely on the previously understudied winter period and spring freeze-thaw cycles.\u00a0

Well done Reti!<\/strong><\/mark><\/td>		<\/td>\"\"<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"<\/td><\/td>July, 2024
The 60th Annual Meeting of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation<\/strong>\u00a0in Kigali, Rwanda, brought together over 700 participants from 50+ countries<\/strong>\u00a0to address climate challenges in tropical regions. This event emphasized protecting biodiversity hotspots\u2014vital for carbon and nitrogen storage and ecosystem services\u2014and fostered collaborative solutions to strengthen tropical ecosystem resilience by uniting scientists, policymakers, and conservationists.
At the conference, the ERC project PeatlandN2O, led by the University of Tartu and Prof \u00dclo Mander<\/strong>, made a notable impact by advancing understanding of greenhouse gas dynamics in tropical peatlands. Our speakers, Prof. \u00dclo Mander, who presented on \u201cMethane and Nitrous Oxide Emissions in Tropical Peatland Forests,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0and Associate Prof. Mikk Espenberg, who discussed the \u201cSoil Microbial Nitrogen Cycle in Tropical Peatland Forests,\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0contributed valuable insights to the session \u201cEcology, Threats, and Conservation Status of Tropical Peatlands,\u201d organized by our good collaborator Angela Gallego-Sala<\/strong>.
In addition, we secured the perfect keynote speakers, Kristell Hergoualc\u2019h<\/strong>\u00a0and Scott Winton<\/strong>\u2014who also captivated audiences in Kigali with their insights on climate resilience in tropical ecosystems\u2014for our AGU2024 session<\/strong>, \u201cLinking Greenhouse Gas, Volatile Organic Compound, and Climatic Processes Across Interfaces in Different Terrestrial Ecosystems, Highlighting Tropical Wetlands<\/strong>,\u201d led by Mikk Espenberg and \u00dclo Mander<\/strong>\u00a0in Washington, D.C.<\/td><\/tr>
July, 2024

Peatland N2O team field trip in Kabale region of Uganda, <\/strong>where wetlands of Muhabura <\/strong>and Kampala <\/strong>are continuously in danger due to pollution and rapid encroachment of urban areas<\/strong>. Wetland areas are often illegally used to grow a variety of staple food crops<\/strong>. Polluted material\u00a0is then absorbed into the wetlands and\u00a0crops.
\u00a0
The project team<\/strong> set up the task to find out the price the global climate<\/strong> is paying for the farming of peatlands.
\u00a0<\/strong>
We collected gas and peat samples to analyse biogeochemistry<\/strong> in potato fields on rich papyrus fen peat around Kabale. These have shown some of the highest N2O fluxes we have ever <\/strong>measured around the world!!!<\/td>		<\/td>\"\"<\/td><\/tr>
May, 2024

Dr. Ramita Khanongnuch <\/strong>(ORCID: 0000-0001-7679-5928) has joined the project as a postdoctoral researcher. She gave the presentation \u201cNew bacterial processes in CH4 emissions mitigation in boreal lake ecosystems\u201d during the seminar of Geography Department.<\/td>		<\/td>\"\"<\/td><\/tr>
\"\"<\/td><\/td>April, 2024

Prof. \u00dclo Mander<\/strong> was elected as a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences<\/strong> <\/a>in the field of global change on 4th of April 2024.
Congratulations!!!<\/mark><\/strong>

The project team field trip(s) continued to potential new study sites in temperate ecosystems:\u00a0 Paluoja, Sirvaste (arable peatland), K\u00e4rdla (floodplain fen meadow) and Kooraste. Field sites have been selected to represent hot spots of N2O emission in peatlands paired with their less-disturbed control variants.
\u00a0

<\/td><\/tr>
March, 2024
PeatlandN2O expedition to the Republic of Congo<\/strong> took place 04.03 \u2013 15.03.2024 as part of establishing the project network of field sites. During field works, the measurements of greenhouse gas flows, isotope and biomass decomposition experiments, and collection of soil and plant samples were done in the Epena<\/strong> tropical forest swamp.
\u00a0
Project members had fruitful collaboration and received the support of researchers from Marien Ngouabi University<\/a>, Brazzaville<\/strong>. The project overview was presented to local scientists and university lecturers at the seminar, and a fruitful discussion followed the presentation.\u00a0
\u00a0
During fieldwork, the PeatlandN2O members enjoyed the hospitality of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Congo<\/a><\/strong>, whose station is located in Epena Nouabale-Ndoki National Park and Lac T\u00e9l\u00e9 Community Reserve.\u00a0

Read more -><\/strong><\/a><\/td>		<\/td>\"\"<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td>January, 2024
Three oral presentations on the ideas and insights of the PeatlandN2O were given by \u00dclo Mander, Kaido Soosaar and Mikk Espenberg at the Biogeomon2024<\/strong> conference in Puerto Rico, San Juan, University of New Hampshire, NH, USA, in January 2024.<\/td><\/tr>
December, 2023

Prof. \u00dclo Mander made two poster presentations at the AGU23 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, USA on 11-15.12.2023.
\u00a0
In the picture, Dr. Kuno Kasak (Tartu University, left) and\u00a0 Prof. \u00dclo Mander meeting with the member of the PeatlandN2O Extended Knowledge Board,<\/strong> Prof. Lulie Melling<\/strong> from Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Malaysia)\u00a0 and her colleague on the fields of the conference.<\/td>		<\/td>\"\"<\/td><\/tr>
\"Valge\"<\/td><\/td>The presentation on PeatlandN2O\u00a0<\/strong>proj<\/strong><\/span>ect\u00a0was<\/strong> held in Tartu University Museum\u2019s White Hall (on Dome Hill) on Thursday, 7th December 2023, 13:00 \u2013 17:00<\/strong>
PROGRAM<\/a><\/strong>
PRESENTATONS<\/a><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
September 2023. We started the project and we have our logo ready.<\/td><\/td>\"logo1\"<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The INTECOL Wetlands 2025 Conference was held in Tartu, Estonia, from June 30 to July 5, 2025.https:\/\/intecolwetlands2025.ee\/ The PeatlandN\u2082O team was actively involved in the preparation phase\u2014selecting abstracts, organizing the agenda, and coordinating technical tours. And of course, we also …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":325,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/325"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":287,"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions\/287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/peatlandn2o\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}