Since all countries have jointly committed to reducing their CO₂ emissions to zero, the rewetting of peatlands has become essential. Numerous scientific findings make it clear that peatlands fulfil far more important ecosystem functions in their natural, wet state than when they are drained.

The challenge now is to rethink the current uses of peatlands and find ways to restore them to a state in which they fulfil their natural ecosystem functions whilst also benefiting people. Paludiculture – the economic use of plants grown or animals reared on wet peatland soils – can establish new value chains, prevent income losses for farmers and, at the same time, preserve the key ecosystem functions of peatlands.

Raising water levels also poses challenges, as heavily drained and degraded peat soils often develop hydrophobic properties, can cause flooding during heavy rainfall, and may even become disconnected from the groundwater. Initial increases in methane emissions are accepted, as methane, unlike CO₂, remains in the atmosphere for only about 12 years, after which time as much methane disappears as is produced. The release of nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from soils formerly used for agriculture and over-fertilised, could be kept to a minimum through measures such as taking into account sulphate levels in the water, regular biomass removal, topsoil removal or gradual rewetting.

Moore information:

• https://www.moorwissen.de/index-en.html