The originally about 40,000 ha of coastal peatlands in this region are today almost entirely embanked, drained, and used for agriculture, leading to substantial greenhouse gas emissions. 

Rewetting slows mineralisation processes and restores the natural carbon storage function of these ecosystems. The planned restoration measures are expected to reduce climate-relevant emissions by approximately 15,000 to 25,000 t CO₂ equivalents per year. In addition, the project seeks to generate synergies between climate protection, flood control, nutrient retention, and biodiversity.

While the Leibniz Institute for Ostseeforschung Warnemünde investigates potential nutrient shifts into the Baltic Sea, and the Naturschutzstiftung Deutsche Ostsee addresses the practical implementation of polder de-embankment and rewetting, the Moor Research Working Group at the University of Greifswald - a partner in the Greifswald Moor Centre - conducts the scientific monitoring research on the climate impacts of these renaturation measures. Greenhouse gas fluxes at selected reference sites are measured before, during, and after rewetting using the eddy covariance method. Furthermore, underlying biogeochemical and physical processes and interactions are investigated. The aim is to quantify and explain the achieved emission reductions scientifically and to derive recommendations for future peatland restoration projects.

Project partners and contacts:

Prof. Dr. Gerald Jurasinski, Dr. Carolin Waldemer, Jannis Raatz

​Funding: 

Bundesumweltministerium / BfN (Aktionsprogramm Natürlicher Klimaschutz ANK), additional funding by the Ministerium für Klimaschutz, Landwirtschaft, ländliche Räume und Umwelt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (LM)

​Links:
Project website IOW