News
2025
by Helena Plochberger
For World Wetlands Day:
New European Wetland Map!
02/02/2025 Just in time for World Wetlands Day a new European Wetland Map shows Europe's peatlands, floodplains and coastal wetlands more comprehensively than ever before in one map. Compiled from about 200 data sources, this map informs policy makers, land users and anyone interested in wetlands not only about their distribution and types, but also, for example, about potential areas at risk of flooding. Users can freely download the European Wetland Map, published in a collaboration with the projects ALFAwetlands, WET HORIZONS and Building a European Peatlands Alliance, for their own analyses. A vector dataset on the geographical distribution of the wetlands considered is available on a country basis in an ArcGIS geodatabase as well as a country-specific high resolution Geo-TIFF collection (grid size: 1 arcsecond).
Background: The World Wetlands Day (WWD)
This day has been drawing attention to the importance of wetlands, including peatlands, on February 2nd every year since 1997. The Ramsar Convention, the international agreement for the protection of wetlands, was adopted on February 2nd in 1971. Since 2021 the WWD has been recognized as an international day by the United Nations. Therefore, their restoration and protection is important. Due to pollution, drainage and agriculture, fires and overfishing, wetlands, which include peatlands, are under threat worldwide or have already been destroyed. Yet they are guarantors of biodiversity and climate protection. Among other things, wetlands offer people protection from drought and flooding, purify water and regulate the microclimate. In Germany, 95% of former wetlands have been drained and are no longer recognizable as such today.
by Helena Plochberger
Paludi-green Week
Tips for visitors
16/01/2025 Paludiculture is a topic at the International Green Week from January 17th to 26th in Berlin. Where and when? - We have compiled some tips here: Paludi products and cores from peatlands, peat and peat substitutes are presented all week at the exhibition stand of Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR) in Hall 27 (Stand 215). Explanations and information is given by staff of the PaludiZentrale project and the PaludiNetz, in which ten paludiculture projects have joined forces. Scientists and practitionerrs from Greifswald Mire Center, FNR and Thünen Institute will be on hand at the booth and ready to answer questions on paludiculture.
At the opening day, January 17th, there will be a panel talk on the topic of peatland protection through peatland use from 13:30-14:00 at the booth of Kaufland in Hall 3.2 (Stand 211). Information will be provided by the PaludiAllianz project of Michael Otto Environmental Foundation, University of Greifswald and Succow Foundation.
One day later, on January 18th, the new MOOReturn paludiculture project will officially receive its funding decision from Claudia Müller, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, on the stage in Hall 23a. Visitors will learn how the project, which involves the University of Greifswald and the Succow Foundation, both partners in the Greifswald Mire Centre, aims to promote paludiculture in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
On January 22nd at 11:30 a.m., the WetNetBB project will host a panel discussion on the topic of “Peatlands with a future”, also on stage in Hall 23a, with a focus on paludiculture in the federal state of Brandenburg.
Background: The International Green Week is the world's largest trade fair for food, agriculture and horticulture, which takes place annually in Berlin. It offers a platform for experts from agriculture, the food industry and the environmental economy to exchange information on innovations, sustainable solutions and trends. Visitors can find out about the latest developments in the fields of food, agriculture and environmental technology and gain exciting insights into the future of the industry.
by Helena Plochberger
New project: MOOReturn
Saving 3,400 tons of CO₂ per year
10/01/2025 From January 2025, the project MOOReturn will combine the large-scale rewetting of peatland with the cultivation, material and energy recovery and marketing of paludiculture raw materials on a total area of 200 hectares.
With estimated CO2 savings of 3,400 tons per year, “MOOReturn” will make a significant contribution to the goals of the National Peatland Protection Strategy and the federal-state target agreement on peatland protection.
Along the Upper Peene in the vicinity of the town of Malchin (Mecklenburg Lake District), the focus is on peatland revitalization, water level optimization and biomass harvesting on various peatland areas. In addition, new possibilities for pulping and material recycling as paper or packaging material, fiberboard and building materials as well as chemical raw materials are to be tested and immediately included in the BMEL-funded project “toMOORow - Alliance of Pioneers”. The degressive thermal utilization supports the development of progressive material utilization at the beginning and enables the participating companies to increase their own contribution. Residual materials are to be marketed as by-products (e.g. fertilizer granulate production).
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is funding the “MOOReturn” project in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 4.3 million euros until 2027. Under the leadership of the German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ), a total of nine partners from science, administration and industry are involved. The Universities of Greifswald and Rostock are providing scientific support for GHG measurements and flora/fauna surveys in MOOReturn. The University of Bonn is investigating material recycling. The company Werner GmbH, the company Agrotherm, moor managers and the mayor of Malchin, the 'Wasserwerk der Zukunft' and the Michael Succow Foundation are also involved. Regional agriculture is supporting the project.
by Helena Plochberger
Become a peatland specialist!
New qualification program
06/01/2025 For a new five-year qualification and practical program to become a peatland specialist, 10 Bachelor's and Master's graduates are being looked for. With a curriculum and a certificate from the University of Greifswald and the Landeslehrstätte für Naturschutz, the programme aims to counteract the current shortage of specialists for peatland revitalization and help meet the increasing demand for specialists.
Over the 5-year term, it offers:
- Paid positions (E13/E9A/B)
- Training and work placements at the LUNG with a focus on rewetting projects
- Insight into the practical implementation of nature conservation projects and climate protection measures
- Prospects for the future in an innovative and interdisciplinary field
The program starts in April 2025, applications are still possible until January 13. Further information and application for graduates with a Bachelor's degree and graduates with a Master's degree.
by NK
Dreaming of wet peatlands
Peatland jobs for Christmas!
20/12/2024 Dear peatland friends,
we at the GMC are “Dreaming of a wet peatland” (or many) constantly and, of course, at Christmas, too. Not dreaming only, but working hard to make it come true. That’s why – so close to Christmas – we let the bells ring for our current job announcements, 21 in total. If they were gifts, they would pile up under the Christmas tree!Please distribute widely, so these job ads can be like a present to a suitable person and a contribution to the efforts of rewetting peatlands and protecting the climate. For Christmas this year we can justifiably so sing: “We wish you rewetted peatlands, we wish you rewetted peatlands and a happy new year“ - great thanks to everybody joining, supporting or following us in 2024!
More information on our job announcements:
Contribute to pioneering research on the novel ecosystems of rewetted peatlands Contribute to pioneering research on the novel ecosystems of rewetted peatlands as part of an interdisciplinary and international team! The newly established Collaborative Research Center “WETSCAPES2.0”, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), is seeking talented and motivated scientists and technical experts to join us in understanding the dynamic processes shaping these unique landscapes.
We are hiring:
1 Scientific Coordinator
10 Postdoctoral Researchers
16 Doctoral Researchers
4 Technical Experts
Our research network brings together the expertise of leading institutions:
University of Greifswald
University of Rostock
IGB Berlin
GFZ Potsdam
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Jena
Humboldt University of Berlin
Together, we investigate the biogeochemical, hydrological, and biological processes in rewetted peatlands and their role in the broader landscape, focusing on water and matter fluxes as well as microbial and biological drivers.
Here more information on the overarching research themes, training programs, and application details.