German peatlands renaturation urged to cut CO2 emissions

The conservation organization Nabu is calling for the large-scale renaturation of German peatlands to combat climate change. Nabu President Jörg-Andreas Krüger noted that drained peatlands currently account for nearly 7% of Germany's total greenhouse gas emissions. When these ecosystems are drained for forestry or agriculture, oxygen enters the peat layers, causing a decomposition process that releases stored carbon as CO2.

In the Harz National Park, experts are monitoring these processes. Katja Osterloh, a scientific associate specializing in moor ecology, explained that drought and human intervention exacerbate the release of greenhouse gases. While the Harz National Park maintains approximately 2,100 hectares of near-natural peatlands, many areas still show the damage caused by historical drainage and peat extraction.

Experts suggest that rewetting these areas is one of the most efficient methods to stop carbon release and transform peatlands back into carbon sinks rather than sources.