Rewetted Peatlands in Southern Germany

Why It Matters

Rewetting Germany’s drained peatlands through paludiculture can slash CO₂ emissions while preserving agricultural use, directly supporting EU climate and biodiversity targets.

Key Takeaways

• German peatlands cover 1.93 M ha, emit >50 Mt CO₂e annually.
• Drained peatlands emit 7% of national greenhouse gases.
• Rewetting to –10 cm water table cuts CO₂, raises CH₄ risk.
• Paludiculture maintains agriculture while reducing emissions on rewetted soils.
• Study provides first empirical emission factors for German paludiculture.

Summary

The webinar highlighted recent research on rewetting peatlands—specifically fen‑type organic soils—in southern Germany and introduced paludiculture as a climate‑smart agricultural alternative. Germany’s organic soils span roughly 1.93 million hectares, about 5 % of the country’s land, yet 90 % remain drained, generating over 50 million tonnes of CO₂‑equivalent emissions annually—roughly 7 % of national totals. Key findings show a strong inverse relationship between water‑table depth and CO₂ emissions, with an optimal rewetting target around –10 cm to minimize carbon release. However, raising water levels can increase methane, underscoring the need for precise hydrological management. Traditional restoration cuts emissions dramatically but removes productive land, prompting interest in paludiculture, which combines wet‑soil agriculture with emission reductions. Carla Bachmann’s eight‑year field study across three Bavarian sites measured greenhouse‑gas fluxes using a novel automated chamber system. Results demonstrated that rewetting and planting native fen species reduced CO₂ emissions from about 40 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ to roughly 5 t ha⁻¹, while maintaining modest biomass yields. The project also produced the first empirically derived emission factors for paludiculture and released an open‑access guideline for establishing such systems. These insights have immediate policy relevance: the EU’s 2024 Nature Restoration Law and Biodiversity Strategy now list paludiculture as a mitigation measure, and the new LULUCF reporting rules will require accurate emission data for managed wetlands. Demonstrating viable, low‑emission agricultural use could accelerate adoption, helping Germany and the EU meet climate targets while preserving rural livelihoods.

Original Description

Carla Bockermann, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, joined Cian Condon on the latest podcast version of the Signpost Series to discuss ‘Rewetted Peatlands in Southern Germany.’

A questions and answers session took place at the end of the webinar which was facilitated by Teagasc’s Patrick Tuohy and Professor Owen Fenton.

To register for future webinars go to:

https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/sustainable-agriculture-webinars/

For more podcasts from the Signpost Series:

https://www.teagasc.ie/signpostpodcast/