Combating climate change: nature conservation measures for climate protection

Nature reserve „Peenetal von Salem bis Jarmen“, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany

08/2013 - 07/2014 (preliminary study)

Pristine fens act as nutrient and carbon sinks and therewith contribute to climate change mitigation. They also harbor a great variety of rare and threatened plant and animal species. Most of the fens in Germany have been drained and cultivated. Drained fens emit high amounts of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O).
The aim of the project is to test if a large scale restoration of degraded fens by rewetting and top soil removal can be realized in an economically feasible way. Therefore, it will be tested if the soil material gained by the top soil removal can be processed and sold as peat substitute for gardening purposes.
Within the preliminary study the initial abiotic and biotic conditions of a degraded fen were surveyed. Top soil was removed on a small area within the degraded fen to test for soil conserving soil removement techniques and the subsequent soil material processing. Marketing possibilities were explored. Further, the public was informed about the project and information on the project area were gathered and entered into a geographical information system.

Hochschule Neubrandenburg
(Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development)
SG Agrarwirtschaft / SG Naturschutz und Landnutzungsplanung
Brodaer Str. 2
17033 Neubrandenburg
Germany

Gerd Woithe, FG II 2.1

Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)