Peatlands – Habitat for Flora and Fauna

Peatland Conservation: Yes – but how?

Sebastian and Juliane Petri farm peatlands in the Uckermark region. In this conversation, they explain why the path toward more peatland-friendly agriculture is so difficult—even though many farmers recognized the problem long ago. The core issue: Those who have invested in new barns or machinery in recent years are locked into ongoing loans. Added to this are statutory obligations dictating how land must be managed. Simply quitting or switching methods is not an option. However, Sebastian and Juliane also demonstrate what could be possible: a form of agriculture that aligns itself with what naturally grows in the soil, rather than fighting against it.

Rewetting and Agriculture – A Contradiction?

In this clip, peatland ecologist Prof. Dr. Vera Luthardt addresses one of the most common arguments against rewetting: the claim that land is being taken out of agricultural production. Her response: That need not be the case. In many places, the 165,000 hectares of peatland in Brandenburg remain usable; the only question is: for what purpose? Instead of fodder or biogas, Prof. Dr. Luthardt sees the future in the production of renewable raw materials. Arable land is needed for food, and forests for timber. Peatlands could be the only remaining reserve areas where raw materials—for packaging, construction materials, and more—can be produced sustainably. What is currently lacking: reliable infrastructure. Farmers need buyers located right at the edge of the peatlands—partners who will pre-process the biomass and ensure its reliable onward distribution. Once these supply chains are fully established, Prof. Dr. Luthardt believes many farmers will be ready to participate, as they can see what is happening to their soils.

What does peatland conservation actually do for biodiversity?

Sebastian and Juliane Petri are standing in a meadow boasting exceptionally high biodiversity—home to amphibians, ground-nesting birds, toads, and lapwings. And it is precisely this diversity that is at stake if peatland conservation is carried out incorrectly. Their conversation reveals an often-overlooked dilemma: cultivating economically valuable plants—such as reeds or cattails—in monocultures destroys the habitat that has evolved over centuries. Conversely, simply ceasing cultivation altogether results in the loss of the very plant and animal species that depend specifically on this managed cultural landscape. There is no simple answer. Yet Sebastian and Juliane Petri are convinced: only if farmers, conservation authorities, local municipalities, and citizens engage in open dialogue can a solution emerge that is truly sustainable.

Did you know that peatland plants can be used to produce building materials and filling for clothing?

In a conversation with Ludwig Bork, it becomes clear how peatlands can be utilized economically. Using the cattail as an example, he explains how plants from rewetted areas are harvested and processed—for instance, into insulation materials, building panels, or textile filling. At the same time, the technical and organizational challenges involved become apparent, as does the reason why many of these approaches have so far only been implemented on a limited, sporadic basis.

What Makes Galloway Cattle so special?

In a conversation with Marc de la Barré, it becomes clear why Galloway cattle are well-suited for the management of peatlands. These animals are considered a robust, natural breed with a high capacity to adapt to diverse weather conditions and damp environments. They roam the landscape independently and are able to cope even with challenging soil conditions. At the same time, their meat production stands apart: characterized by slower growth, naturalistic rearing, and a distinct quality compared to conventional beef.

What happens when residential developments are built on peatlands—and decades later, plans are made to rewet those very areas?

In this conversation with Sebastian and Juliane Petri—peatland climate farmers from the Moorhofer Grünlandhof—the discussion centers on responsibility, political planning levels, and the perspective of homeowners who suddenly find themselves confronted with flooded basements. This video clip illustrates how decisions made in the past continue to have repercussions today. Residential areas were established on peat soils—soils whose specific characteristics received little consideration at the time. Today, however, ecological objectives and the lived reality of many homeowners collide in the context of rewetting efforts.

How can water be managed in peatlands without pitting land use against ecological conservation?

In a conversation with Marc de la Barré, a peatland farmer from the Uckermark region, the discussion centers on the challenge of regulating water levels in peatland landscapes. The video illustrates that insufficient water leads to the desiccation of peatlands and causes long-term changes to the landscape. Conversely, excessively high water levels can render land uncultivable and alter existing ecosystems. A dynamic tension thus emerges between water retention, biodiversity, and agricultural use — a balance that requires continuous negotiation.

Too much here, too little there — why Germany’s water management is stalling peatland conservation.

Sebastian and Juliane Petri, peatland climate farmers at the Moorhofer Grünlandhof, repeatedly highlight one specific problem: Germany lacks a functional, cross-state water management system. This has tangible consequences: peatlands are drying out because water is being drained away rather than retained. Similar to regions with a water surplus, where the water is, too, simply drained away. Added to this are conflicting objectives, such as in the Spreewald region, where peatland conservation and the provision of drinking water for Berlin stand in direct competition to each other. This clip illustrates the multitude of competing interests converging around the issue of water, and explains why, without a better system, meaningful progress remains all but impossible.

Why do farmers continue to rely on maize rather than paludiculture?

In a conversation with Marc de la Barré, the economic and structural challenges underlying alternative forms of peatland management become clear. Maize yields a higher energy mass than paludiculture crops, such as reeds, making it economically more attractive. At the same time, many technical facilities are not designed to utilize paludibiomass. While applications do already exist — for instance, in energy production or the packaging industry — the transition remains a risk for many farms without long-term political and economic security.

Why do good ideas often fail during implementation?

In a conversation with Marc de la Barré, it becomes clear what challenges agricultural enterprises face when implementing new forms of peatland management. Instead of receiving direct support for peatland conservation, many are confronted with complex application procedures and overlapping responsibilities across various administrative levels. Communication between practitioners and policymakers is often fragmented in this process. This clip illustrates how bureaucratic structures exert a decisive influence on whether sustainable management practices can actually be successfully implemented.

What is Peat & how is it formed? 

Peatland ecologist Prof. Dr. Vera Luthardt explains in this clip what defines a peatland and why it is so special. A peatland forms wherever the soil is permanently saturated with water – not so much that a lake forms, but enough that hardly any oxygen reaches the soil. Under these oxygen-poor, so-called anaerobic conditions, dead plant matter cannot decompose completely. What remains is peat. This process makes peatlands unique habitats that require special adaptations from plants, animals, and microorganisms.

How far would you walk into a peatland?

In conversation with Marc de la Barré, one thing quickly becomes clear: peatlands aren't something you should blindly rely on. What initially seems stable suddenly begins to bounce, bubble, and can give way just a step later. The clip playfully illustrates how deceptive this landscape can be and why experience is crucial here.

190 Million Tons of Carbon – Hidden in Brandenburg's Peatlands. 

Peatland ecologist Prof. Dr. Vera Luthardt holds a piece of peat in her hand and explains what it contains: millennia-old plant remains, deposited since the last Ice Age. Four meters of it lie beneath her feet. In Brandenburg alone, 190 million tons of carbon are stored in peatlands. To put that in perspective: a freight train filled with this amount would circle the equator one and a half times. As long as the peatland remains wet, the carbon stays in the soil. If it dries out, microorganisms release it rapidly as CO2 and nitrous oxide. If it is rewetted, this process stops immediately.

How much CO2 does a wet peatland bind, and what about the methane? 

Peatland ecologist Prof. Dr. Vera Luthardt calculates the climate benefits of an intact peatland. Around four tons of CO2 are bound per hectare annually – that's equivalent to 2.8 tons per football field. Or, to put it another way: as much as a small gasoline-powered car emits over 33,000 kilometers. Methane is also produced in peatlands under oxygen-depleted conditions. This argument is often used against rewetting. Prof. Dr. Luthardt refutes this: Measured results clearly show that a drained peatland releases three to four times more CO2 than a wet peatland