Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics Research IGD
Peatland Degradation Calls for Active Peatland Protection
Covering just three percent of the world’s surface area, peatlands nonetheless act as important carbon stores. In Germany, extensive tracts of peatland have been drained for agricultural use, introducing oxygen into the peat, releasing enormous amounts of CO₂ and causing the loss of other ecosystem services. Rewetting these areas can stop emissions and reinvigorate ecosystem services. In this way, peatlands can help to achieve climate targets. In addition to their beneficial effect on the climate, wet peatlands are an essential habitat for highly specialized plant and animal species.
Peatland rewetting is a Herculean task, however. At the current pace of around 2,000 hectares per year on average, Germany’s stated goal of rewetting 250,000 hectares by 2030 Bund-Länder-Zielvereinbarung zum Klimaschutz durch Moorbodenschutz [Federal Government-Federal States Target Agreement for Climate Protection Through Peat Protection] will not be achieved. There are various reasons for this, many of which have to do with a lack of monitoring data.
