News/All pieces
Mire defence tech for Europe
New GMC paper on peatlands & security
27/06/2025 Peatlands not only help in the fight against climate change, they also provide natural defence in military conflicts. In view of the current war between Russia and Ukraine, this new information paper from the Greifswald Mire Centre advocates the rewetting of peatlands, particularly in border regions, as a measure for Europe's security and defence capability. The paper recommends establishing an EU fund of €250-500 million to finance the rewetting of 100,000 ha as a measure within the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF).
The paper sees further advantages: Rewetting would fulfill a component of the EU Nature Restoration Law. Issuing emission certificates for rewetting peatlands would arouse the economy’s interest and get it involved. Simultaneously, ecological benefits such as the protection of biodiversity or water filtration and retention can be achieved.
In 1500, farmers of Dithmarsch defeated the Danish army in the ‘Hemmingstedter Moor’. Napoleon's armies were literally bogged down in the peatlands of Russia. Peatlands & defence are not a new topic, as these examples show. For the authors of the information paper, however, it is particularly urgent now to rethink defence and to bring rewetting also for military purposes into current political discussions.
Notably, the media has started to spotlight this topic, such as Yale Environment 360's article "How Restored Wetlands Can Protect Europe from Russian Invasion" or the Dutch radio programme Vroege Vogels.
Sensational little discovery
Hartman's sedge is back!
25/06/2025 Students of the unique master’s program “Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation” at the University of Greifswald made remarkable botanical discoveries during a field internship focused on peatland research. They rediscovered Hartman’s Sedge (Carex hartmaniorum), which had been considered extinct in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania since 1968, in the Ladebow Moor — the last known location of this species in the region.
The find was unexpected: while conducting a vegetation survey on a meadow, the students closely examined a 4 m² plot. This thorough analysis led to the discovery of Hartman’s Sedge, which likely would have been overlooked during a more superficial inspection of the area. To verify their findings, the students consulted several botanical experts, who confirmed the identification.
Hartman’s Sedge is a perennial plant that reaches heights of 30 to 70 cm and has slender, gray to dark green leaves. Its flowering period spans from May to June, with male and female flowers differing in appearance. The species is typically found in habitats with alternating wet and waterlogged conditions and forms loose turfs in nutrient-poor wet meadows and fens. Unfortunately, many of its natural habitats are severely threatened by drainage and intensive land use, making the protection of these ecosystems critically important.
A key factor in preserving Hartman’s Sedge is the management of nutrient-poor, seasonally wet meadows through low-intensity use. Ideally, this includes late mowing and the removal of cut material to prevent nutrient buildup. Revitalizing fallow meadows can also benefit the species by reducing competition from shrubs and other aggressive plant species.
The rediscovered site in Ladebow Moor has been professionally managed for several years using a single annual mowing regime, demonstrating that appropriate water management and land use practices are vital for the conservation of rare plant species. By integrating agricultural use with peatland and nature conservation, valuable plant communities can be preserved and even restored.
The rediscovery of Hartman’s Sedge highlights the importance of research and sustainable land management in conservation practice and offers hope for future success in the rediscovery and preservation of endangered plant species.
Fentastic boggy topics
at UNI for children and youngsters
04/06/2025 Superpowers & satellite images – with these topics the Greifswald peatland scientists are adding some fantastic boggy taste to this year's Children's and Youth UNI at the University of Greifswald.
With two exciting lectures they take the young explorers on a journey into the fascinating ecosystem. On Wednesday 11 June at 10 a.m., Dr. Vytas Huth will explain “The superpowers of peatlands - how they protect our climate!” for pupils in grades 1-4. Karen-Doreen Barthelmes will show how to “Search for peatlands around the world with satellite images” on Thursday, June 12 at 9 a.m.
At the Children's and Youth UNI pupils in grades 1-10 can be a student for a day and attend a lecture at the university – free fronm charge but with registration. Find out more about the programme with free lectures and guided tours about science and research here.
RRR2025 register now
Preliminary programme online
03/06/2025 For the 4th conference on Renewable Resources from Wet and Rewetted Peatlands – RRR2025 from 23rd – 26th September 2025 at Greifswald, Germany, the preliminary programme is online. You can look forward to an exciting week with 2 key notes, 82 oral presentations, 66 poster, 14 workshops, 6 excursions and inspiring and surprising evening events. During the conference many workshops are offered for more room for exchange, discussion, collaboration or even training. Please register now via our registation platform, which is open until 15th August 2025! Please note that the number of participants for the conference and the workshop is limited. Stay tuned for the latest conference news on the RRR2025-website.
Acoustics, art and cardboard
All in this fresh issue of our NL
23/05/2025 The current issue of the Paludiculture newsletter tells how peatland is represented in the new “Land Use” focus of the Berlin Futurium and about new courses and training programmes on peatlands. It shares news about the new cardboard box of a large German DIY store produced with a share of paludiculture biomass. In the Paludiculture interview, scientist Alexander Drexler explains why he doesn't need to hear anything himself during bioacoustic monitoring. Also: newly launched projects, new publications and an overview of current events on peatlands, climate protection and paludiculture in the calendar. We hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and would be happy to receive feedback on it by e-mail to communication@greifswaldmoor.de.
Peatland & Futurium
Living plant installation "Superland"
22/05/2025 Just a few steps out of Berlin Central Station along the banks of the Spree and you can already see it: a living plant installation in front of the Futurium. Also integrated: Cattail and peat moss! They are intended to show that peatlands are important when it comes to land use. A joint event organised by Futurium, the Joachim Herz Foundation and the Greifwald Mire Centre on 9 October 2025 will focus on how we currently use peatlands, what problems this causes, what opportunities they offer us for the future and what conflicts there are over land use on peatland. At the Futurium's Family Day, already on 4 October 2025, we will present interesting and entertaining facts about peatlands and climate protection interactively for adults and children to participate in.
Detailed information will follow soon on the Futurium and Greifswald Mire Centre channels. Until then, just drop by if you get the chance, perhaps during a stopover at the main railway station.
Paludiculture in a garden box
New pilot product!
25/04/2025 "Achieving mo(o)re together" - this is the motto under which OBI Group Holding, a member of the „Alliance of Pioneers“ of the toMOORow initiative, launched its first paludi pilot product in April: a plant transport box made from 10% reed canary grass. From the “field” to the OBI store, the box passes four different stations:
At the Swabian Donaumoos-Zweckverband, the reed canary grass is harvested on rewetted peatland in the Donaumoos. The company Fiber365 processes the paludiculture biomass into fibers using an innovative, environmentally friendly process. The LEIPA Group uses a mixture of these fibers, among others, to produce a cardboard base. Leopold GmBH Verpackungen then uses this to produce the actual cardboard.
This is intended for customers to transport small plant pots from the markets to their homes. In Germany alone, the DIY and garden market sells around 46 million plants every year.
See peatlands and estimate greenhouse gas emissions
New GEST course
04/04/2025 Looking at peatlands and ... estimating greenhouse gases? Being able to do this is not a bad thing and is increasingly in demand. Recording greenhouse gases is a decisive step towards reducing them and thus combating the climate crisis. The Greifswald Mire Center not only has the right method, but also the training - the GEST course from July 2-4 in Greifswald!
GEST stands for Greenhouse gas Emission Site Type. The idea is to determine the greenhouse gases produced by water levels, land use and vegetation.
Participants will learn:
- to record water levels in the field
- to create a greenhouse gas balance sheet and determine the potential savings
The practical application takes place in two mapping exercises:
- in a degraded grassland in the Ryck lowlands and
- on the unused wet site
In addition, the following questions, among others, will be discussed:
- How can the GEST approach be classified in the climate policy framework and what other areas of application are there?
- How trustworthy are carbon certificates and what criteria are needed for them?
The course is aimed at anyone who would like to be involved in the planning or implementation of peatland and climate protection projects. There is currently a waiting list and the course fee is 370 Euro (reduced rate 220 Euro). Knowledge of botanical species is a prerequisite, previous knowledge of peatland and climate protection projects is desirable.
Register now to actively contribute to peatland and climate protection with the GEST approach!
Ground-breaking ceremony & Sernitz
Rewetting has started
01/04/2025 A symbolic ground-breaking ceremony marks the start of the establishment of a wet meadow paludiculture by the toMOORow initiative - wet mires for a sustainable future. The peat meadows in the Sernitz Mire serve as a model project: drainage ditches are now being filled in, sills are being built in the flow to retain water and a sustainable use through paludiculture covering an area of around 80 hectares will then be established with local farmers. The measures help to keep water in the landscape, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1,200 tons of CO₂ equivalents per year and enable the reintroduction of typical peatland plant and animal species.
The initiative is thus continuing years of work to restore natural conditions in the Sernitz Moor in the “Schorfheide-Chorin” biosphere reserve as part of the LIFE project “Lesser Spotted Eagle”. In consultation with local residents and land users, measures for water retention were developed, pastures for water buffalo were established and a mire experience trail was designed, to name just a few examples of the successful project.
The Federal Ministers Steffi Lemke and Cem Özdemir attended the launch, as they see the activities in the Sernitz as a strong signal for sustainable peatland use by the toMOORow initiative of the Succow Foundation, partner in the Greifswald Mire Center, and the Michael Otto Environmental Foundation.
Mire for Minister
Current research presented
01/04/2025 We were able to present the current status of research and databases to Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (BMUV) during her visit at the Greifswald Mire Center.
Mire research plays an important role in the research strategy of the University of Greifswald, explained Vice-Rector Peter Michalik in his opening speech. The minister was interested in the measurements of plant biomass and greenhouse gases in the mesocosm facility, the reed collection and the oldest book in the bog library explained by Franziska Tanneberger, Gerald Jurasinski, Sebastian van der Linden and Hans Joosten, but she was also particularly impressed by our peat mosses, which Greta Gaudig showed her.
Paludiculture, biodiversity and peat formation were among the other topics part of the exchange - as well as the outlook for future research, as it will take place in the Collaborative Research Center of the German Research Foundation (DFG) WETSCAPES 2.0. Therefore, the GMC representatives were very pleased that the Minister was accompanied by Nathalie Niederdrenk and Ulf Hauke from the Department of Soil and Mire Protection.