Author(s)

Ü. Mander, M. Strandberg, T. Mauring & K. Remm

Abstract

Wetlands as essential basis for sustainable development: Estonian case U. Mander *, M. Strandberg \ T. Mauring ^ & K. Remm * Institute of Geography, University of Tartu, Estonia Center for Ecological Engineering Tartu, Estonia Abstract We see wetlands as an important basis for sustainable development. Besides the biodiversity and landscape functions they can be widely used for wastewater treatment and energy/material production. We assume that a significant part of the oil shale, the main national fossil energy source, but also a part of the imported fuel and gas can be replaced by the energy production from wetlands. Based on the average biomass production of reed and cat-tail (1.5 kg m~* yr~') the estimated energy value of one hectare of energy reed-bed is approximately 200 GJ. On the other hand, from approximately 600,000 ha of drained agricultural areas in Estonia about 300,000 ha will be abandoned in coming decades. A major part of this area (excluding all prot

Keywords