1/09/2025  Across Europe many wetlands are drained for agriculture, releasing vast amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Identifying where these drainage “hot spots” occur—whether for arable crops or grassland—is critical to promoting wet alternatives such as paludiculture. As part of the project Building the European Peatlands Initiative: A Strong Alliance for Peatland Climate Protection in Europe, researchers have combined the latest European Wetland Map with land cover data to produce a new map showing the agricultural use of peatlands in the European Union and several neighboring countries (Verlinkung von GMC). This map offers valuable insights for policymakers, conservationists, and the interested public seeking sustainable solutions. The map is based on data from the Global Peatland Database (GPD), which collates and integrates data on location, extent and drainage status of peatlands and organic soils worldwide and for 268 individual countries and regions.
The project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. Project partners include Eurosite, CEEweb and the European Landowners’ Organization (ELO).

27/08/2025  80,000 young plants have been planted in the Bargischow-Süd polder in Vorpommern since mid-July. An impressive action! As part of the Paludi-MV project, a dense, high-quality reed bed is to be created here for agricultural use. A tractor with a strip tiller has drawn long rows in the grass on the previous grassland before a soil auger prepared the planting holes, and the seedlings were transported and planted in the field using a quad. After planting, the area will be flooded. The harvest is planned for winter when the plants have lost their leaves and no birds are nesting. In the past, fodder for livestock was grown here, but due to high water levels and soil degradation, the quality was inadequate. Long-term drainage has decomposed the peat, and the polder has settled by over a meter in height. Today, it is therefore one meter below sea level. This is where the reeds come into play as an alternative! They can be used for thatched roof, plaster carriers, insulation boards or cellulose for papers and cartons. Since experience in reed cultivation is still rare, PaludiMV is examining the costs and challenges of planning and implementation.

The pilot project "Paludi-MV" is jointly implemented by the Landgesellschaft Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mbH und der Universität Greifswald , and it is funded by the  Federal Ministry for the Environment . The goal is to test paludiculture on two polder areas: Bargischow-Süd (LK Vorpommern-Greifswald) and Sandhagen (LK Mecklenburg Lake District).

25/08/2025  What is the value of peatlands? How can the ecosystem values of rewetted areas in particular be captured and quantified? With the Moormonitor, product designer and peatland enthusiast Milan Bergheim and his colleagues in the Valpeats project are developing an economical and practical monitoring system for this purpose. The aim is to enable peatland areas to be rewetted more quickly and over a larger area and used for paludiculture. Read the full interview here.

28/07/2025  The Moorkoffer 2 (in german) is not a finished suitcase – it is a collection of educational materials for peatland and climate education, designed for teachers, environmental educators, volunteers, and anyone actively engaged in education for sustainable development.
The publication contains 50 methods: from soil drilling and role-playing games to experiments, meditations, and creative reflection formats. These methods are flexible, location-based, and adaptable to different needs – they can be used even without access to a real peatland. All materials are freely available and can be used and shared under the CC BY-NC license, meaning non-commercial use with attribution.
Additionally, there's the musical audio play "Im Libellenwunderland" (in german) for children in daycare centers and primary schools, which playfully explores topics such as biodiversity, water scarcity, and climate change. It is available on Spotify, YouTube, and SoundCloud. The booklet “IM.MOOR.SEIN.”, designed to promote mindful sensory experiences in peatlands, guides individuals and groups of all ages through all four seasons. All materials were developed as part of the MoKKa project by the Succow Foundation and the University of Greifswald.

24/07/2025  From hands-on workshops to eye-opening excursions, the 4th International Conference on Renewable Resources from Wet and Rewetted Peatlands (RRR2025) promises a rich and diverse experience. Researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world will come together to discover paludiculture from all perspectives: in 2 key notes, 82 oral and 66 poster presentations.

Programme highlights include:

• Workshops – In-depth sessions for collaboration, training, and knowledge exchange
• Excursions – Visits to innovative peatland sites with Eddy towers, solar panels, and more
• Paludiculture Exhibition – Latest products made from wetland biomass
• Paludishow and conference dinner – A joyful and interactive evening of learning and entertainment great for networking
• Creative side events – Including a zombie fire documentary and immersive peatland soundscapes

Register by 15 August 2025 to secure your place in this unique international gathering.
Details and registration: rrr2025.com
Questions? Contact us at: info@rrr2025.com

Please feel free to share this information with colleagues or partners who might be interested.