• July 24, 2024

10th Meeting of the European Peatland Policy Working Group: Germany's Peatland Protection Efforts

New Initiatives and Progress in Germany's Peatland Protection

The 10th meeting of the European Peatland Policy Working Group (EPPWG) on June 5th, 2024, brought together experts and stakeholders from various institutions to discuss the current state and future strategies for peatland conservation in Germany. The event, featuring presentations from the Succow Foundation, ZUG gGmbH, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV), and NABU, highlighted the critical role of peatlands in climate and biodiversity protection. Key topics included ongoing rewetting efforts, the implementation of the National Peatland Conservation Strategy, the Federal Action Plan on Nature-based solutions, and innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture through paludiculture.

Succow Foundation's Insights on Peatland Conservation

Sophie Hirschelmann and Jan Peters from the Succow Foundation, a partner of the Greifswald Mire Centre, kicked off the meeting with a comprehensive overview of peatland conditions and restoration efforts in Germany. Hirschelmann revealed that out of the 1.8 million hectares of peatlands in Germany, 94% are drained, with only 2% remaining in a near-natural state. This drainage poses significant challenges for climate targets, by turning those peatlands from a carbon sink into a carbon source.

Currently, about 2,000 hectares of peatlands are rewetted annually, but this figure falls short of the 50,000 hectares required to meet climate goals. Hirschelmann outlined several initiatives, including the National Peatland Protection Strategy (2022-2030) and the establishment of a Peatland Agency in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, which has appointed six new peatland managers. These efforts are complemented by new agri-environmental climate schemes and the implementation of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) measures aimed at encouraging peatland-friendly practices among farmers.

Peters continued with a focus on practical applications and collaborations. He highlighted several model and demonstration projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, emphasizing the increasing participation of farmers. The PaludiZentrale initiative (2023-2033) aims to integrate the cultivation, utilization, and marketing of peatland crops, assessing their impacts on greenhouse gas balances, biodiversity, and hydrology. Peters also mentioned the "Tomoorow" initiative, which fosters cooperation between environmental protection, business, science, and politics to incorporate biomass into value chains.

Federal Strategies and Action Plans

Tom Kirschey from ZUG gGmbH provided an overview on the Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity, detailing its objective to improve the state and functionality of ecosystems to enhance resilience and biodiversity. The plan encompasses 10 fields of action with 69 measures, with a strong emphasis on protecting intact peatlands and rewetting degraded ones.

Dr. Marco Brendel from BMUV delved into the specifics of the Federal Action Plan on Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Biodiversity. Key components include implementing the National Peatland Conservation Strategy and the Federation-Länder target agreement on climate change mitigation through peat soil conservation. Brendel highlighted the ambitious goal of reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by 5 million tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030 through these measures.

The plan also addresses improving the condition of unused and protected peatlands, developing new value chains for paludiculture, and phasing out the extraction and use of peat. On-farm projects and funding guidelines are set to support these initiatives, promoting rewetting and renaturing efforts across agricultural and forestry lands.

NABU's Regional Efforts and Challenges

Jonathan Etzold from NABU discussed the LIFE Multi Peat project and NABU’s efforts in the Häsener Luch fen complex. The project core area comprises of 19 hectares that are protected and owned by a regional chapter of NABU. Additional land plots are in the process of being acquired. Despite progress, challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles, land acquisition or swapping procedures and negotiations with landowners remain significant. Surrounding landowners gave their consent to a trial rewetting. Following their consent, shaft weirs were repaired and the first year of trial rewetting was completed, raising the water level to almost ground level in the winter months. 

Engaging Stakeholders and Looking Ahead

The meeting concluded with a discussion on stakeholder involvement and the attitudes of farmers towards peatland conservation. While farmers acknowledge the long-term issues of drained peatlands, they are waiting for adequate incentives and compensation to participate in conservation efforts. 

Overall, the meeting underscored the critical need for continued investment, collaboration, and innovative solutions to protect and restore Germany's peatlands. As strategies evolve and new projects emerge, the hope is to create a sustainable future where peatlands play a central role in climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation.