A plea for peat bogs

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction.Peat bogs: little-known ecosystems

PART I. WATER,PEAT AND LIFE

1. How peatbogs function: water, the key element

An essentiallink with the water table

The role ofpeat bogs in the hydrology of catchment areas

Where are peatbogs in the world?

2. How peat ismade, or the birth of peat bogs

Incompleterecycling of organic matter

Minerogenic,ombrogenic, limnogenic: the origins of peat accumulation

Peat is also asoil, the Histosol

3. Theabundant but often discreet life of peat bogs

Peat bogs:exceptional biodiversity?

The flora ofpeat bogs

The fauna ofpeat bogs

4. Going backin time by sinking into the peat

Core drillingin peat bogs

How old arepeat bogs?

Peat tells thestory of landscapes and people

PART II. PEATBOGS AND HUMAN SOCIETIES

5. How dopeople use peatlands?

Cultivatingpeat bogs

When peatbecomes marshland

The many usesof peat

6. Degradedwetlands that can be restored

Peat bogsbetter protected but still under threat

Oftenreversible dysfunctions: restoring peat bogs

7. Why and howshould peat bogs be preserved?

Preserving theservices provided by peat bogs to society

Pending aninventory of France's peat bogs...

Management atall costs? How about leaving peat bogs alone?

Conclusion

Bibliography

Glossary