Peatland Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

The PeatBES working group studies peatlands as key ecosystems in the context of global change and examines their importance for biodiversity, climate, and society. The research focuses on how peatlands evolve under conditions of drainage, rewetting, and land use change, and how their diverse functions can be preserved and restored in the long term. The research ranges from peatlands in Germany and Europe to global aspects.

A particular focus is on the biodiversity of peatlands. PeatBES studies species and communities and investigates how rewetting, paludiculture, and other new forms of land use like peatland PV influence their development.

In addition, the research group investigates the ecosystem services provided by peatlands—from carbon sequestration and climate regulation to water balance, water quality, and the promotion of biodiversity. The goal is to quantify these services and thereby establish a scientific foundation for nature-based solutions, effective nature conservation, and a sustainable bioeconomy.

Since the summer of 2026, the working group has been an independent unit at the Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology at the University of Greifswald.