The Impacts of Peatland Restoration on Biodiversity: A Rapid Evidence Assessment from the Andes and Hindu Kush Himalayas

Peatland degradation, which has accelerated over the past century, contributes significantly to carbon emissions and biodiversity loss. Mountain peatlands are particularly vulnerable due to their sensitivity to climate change. While peatland restoration offers an effective means to reduce carbon emissions and support biodiversity, knowledge gaps remain regarding biodiversity responses to restoration efforts, especially in the Andean and Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) regions. To address this, a rapid evidence assessment following a modified PRISMA framework was conducted. Peer-reviewed and grey literature were reviewed for the Andean and HKH regions and complemented this with a targeted global synthesis of studies from the last decade to allow for broad comparison. Our findings for 24 studies (33 treatments), show that drainage (15) and overgrazing (13) were the main causes of degradation, particularly in the Andes. Most restoration efforts targeted biodiversity and/or hydrology, with over 90% reporting positive outcomes. Hydrological restoration focused on raising water levels, while biodiversity restoration involved planting native species and reducing grazing pressure. Monitoring was generally short-term (~ 3 years), and few studies used reference sites or assessed faunal responses. Participation of local stakeholders was done in less than half of the studies but was more common in the Andes and HKH. Based on these findings, we identified key knowledge gaps and developed recommendations to guide effective peatland restoration efforts. These findings suggest that while restoration efforts in mountain peatlands are increasing and often successful, greater regional focus in the HKH, long-term monitoring, faunal assessments, and stakeholder engagement are needed to ensure effective and resilient restoration outcomes.