Paludiculture Newsletter 1|2026

The project “New Impetus for Climate Protection through Peatland Conservation” examines data sets for quantifying the climate impact of peatlands, analyses policy strategies and instruments in a European comparison, and develops pathways for peatland climate protection and wetland utilisation up to and beyond 2045 in Germany.

These key areas were addressed in a workshop, where central governance, financing and transformation issues were explored in depth. The aim was to discuss project findings with stakeholders from academia, public administration, politics, associations and practice, and to further develop them in a practical manner.

The focus was on the question of how policy objectives, institutional structures, funding and market mechanisms must interact in order to significantly advance rewetting and wetland utilisation in Germany. Four points emerged as particularly clear, which are crucial for long-term success:

Climate protection in peatlands requires a binding commitment. Ambitious targets provide planning certainty and political legitimacy. However, they will only be effective if they are underpinned by concrete measures and a reliable legal framework. The key lies in the interaction between national targets and regional stakeholders who develop appropriate implementation strategies.

Implementation requires robust structures and simpler procedures. Discussions focused on regional coordination bodies and special-purpose associations, for example at the level of catchment areas, to better plan and manage large-scale rewetting. At the same time, approval processes must be simplified and responsibilities more clearly defined.

Without viable financing, the transformation will not succeed. In addition to public funding instruments, the discussion also covered private financing, for example via carbon markets and blended finance models. Such approaches can be particularly helpful during the transitional phase until stable value chains for paludiculture are established.

Markets for paludiculture need to be further developed. This requires new insights into raw material quality, processing and logistics, as well as targeted support measures tailored to regional supply and demand structures. Regional raw material hubs and mobile processing technologies could help to reduce processing and transport costs and better integrate paludiculture biomass into existing markets.

The workshop results are currently being analysed. Several publications commissioned by the Federal Environment Agency (available under research code 3723 NK 101 0) will bring together key findings on data basis, policy instruments and long-term pathways for peatland climate protection.

Author: Nahleen Lemke, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Farmers, certified marksmen, slaughterers, processing companies and marketing professionals from across Germany came together at the “Buffalo & Peatland” event to exchange views on current challenges and future prospects of water buffalo farming.

Presentations and discussions focused on the different stages of the value chain – from pasture to plate. The contributions highlighted that water buffalo farming is currently associated with a number of structural bottlenecks and challenges. In Brandenburg in particular, regional slaughtering capacities are lacking, resulting in long transport distances. For this reason, a number of water buffalos are culled directly on pasture by trained marksmen. This avoids the stress of transport and slaughterhouses for the animals. However, although this method has been permitted under EU law since 2021, it has not yet become standard practice among all permitting authorities. In addition, the number of processing facilities remains limited, from primary butchering to sausage production. The main causes identified were the shortage of skilled workers in the butchery sector and high regulatory requirements, ranging from certified master craftsman qualifications to complex approval procedures for slaughter facilities.

A key focus of the event was the development of concrete solutions. Dedicated time for exchange during breaks enabled participants to establish new contacts, strengthen existing networks and initiate direct cooperation – for example between farmers, processors and marketing actors. In this way, “Buffalo & Peatland” made a tangible contribution to advancing value chains. At the same time, the format significantly supported capacity building: the contributions provided practical knowledge on husbandry, slaughter, processing and marketing, helping to further establish water buffalo farming as a viable form of land use on rewetted peatlands. Through extensive grazing, water buffalo also promote species-rich wetland habitats and contribute to climate protection, as rewetted peat soils can store large amounts of CO₂.

The event concluded with a practical highlight: a tasting of 15 water buffalo products. Participants had brought goulash, salami, smoked sausages and fresh sausages from across Germany. Water buffalo meat is particularly low in fat and cholesterol and is therefore considered a healthier alternative to beef. The participants selected three products as their favorites. In addition to a certificate, the winners received a “peatland praline” presented by artist Anja Fiedler, which makes the connection between peatland conservation and food both tangible and experiential.

The event was jointly organized by the BLuMo peatland pilot project of the Brandenburg State Office for the Environment, the MOORBÜFFEL project and the German Buffalo Association (Deutscher Büffel-Verband e. V.).

Author: Bettina Tacke, Communications & Stakeholder Management Officer at the Brandenburg State Office for the Environment (LfU)

With Nass und nachhaltig – Klima, Landwirtschaft und die Zukunft unserer Moorböden  (German only) the Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) has launched a new podcast series. It focusses on the four pilot projects on peat soil conservation funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). These projects are testing how peatlands can be used sustainably and economically viable—in a practical, regionally adapted manner that can be replicated in other areas. Listeners gain insights into practical applications, research, and development surrounding the rewetting of peatlands and the agricultural use of wet peatlands.

“One Year in Peatlands” is a series of events organised by the Greifswald Mire Centre, which explores the diverse peatland landscape in and around Greifswald, as well as in Vorpommern, throughout the year. Each month, an excursion takes place to a different peatland, focusing on a different theme. In summer, participants can experience key topics such as biodiversity, the history of land use or paludiculture in the field. During the winter months, participants can keep warm whilst taking part in practical work or relax in the cosy peatland library.

Whether near-natural, utilised, degraded or rewetted – the excursions take place in areas with very different conditions and functions. They are open to anyone interested, are free of charge, but require online registration: https://eveeno.com/111806670.

Andre Jansen set to find how Typa germinates and what it means for the future of paludiculture – a climate-smart way of farming on rewetted peatlands. Because wet agriculture can help to protect peatlands while still producing valuable biomass!

The result: the brochure "The germination of Typha species" that is now available online! Based on an extensive literature review, it translates ecological knowledge into practical insights for sustainable land use and restoration.

Five key takeaways:

1. Typha species produce enormous amounts of viable seeds, making sowing a promising and cost-effective alternative to planting.
2. Water regime is the key driver: fluctuating water levels strongly influence germination and seedling establishment.
3. Typha seeds germinate fast and reliably under the right conditions, especially with sufficient light and temperature.
4. The species’ ability to form persistent seed banks allows rapid colonisation after rewetting events.
5. Understanding germination ecology is essential for successful paludiculture and peatland conservation.

Under the theme “Regional Resources for the Future,” the Eco Congress took place on March 12 and 13 at the Forum Alte Werft in Papenburg. A wide range of topics related to sustainable material cycles were discussed, including paludiculture as one of five key focus areas.

The congress was organized by Ecoras and the 3N Competence Center in collaboration with the Lower Saxony Paludiculture Competence Center. It serves as the central information hub for paludiculture in Lower Saxony and was responsible for raising the profile of paludiculture at the congress.

Numerous partners from FNR, Interreg, and ML-funded paludiculture projects—such as RoNNi, NAPALU, Paludi & Bau, Paludi & Markt, and PaludiFarming—participated as speakers in the diverse program.

During the first day, Christian Fritz from Radboud University Nijmegen and Gerald Jurasinski from the Greifswald Mire Centre introduced the 160 participants to paludiculture. In particular, they described developments in peatland management from Dutch and German perspectives.

Later, product presentations offered insights into the practical application of cropping paludiculture and wet meadows. Phillip Rutsch from OBI Group Holding introduced Paludi-Karton, a cardboard containing 10% Paludi biomass.  Also inspiring was Sphaxx - a substrate made from cultivated peat moss as a peat substitute—brought by Sjanie Hindenberg (Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH); the use of cattails for insulation material by Bouwgroep Dijkstra Draisma (presented by Coen Verboom), and the use of recycled reeds for construction and interior design by Perta Boorsma (Biosintrum).

On the second day of the conference, participants delved even deeper into the value chains of paludiculture. Under the title “Paludiculture – From Field to Product,” three panel discussions addressed the successes and hurdles in establishing stable value chains for peat moss, cattails, and wet meadows. The Dutch and German experts came from all sectors along the value chains—from the cultivation and harvesting of biomass to the processing, testing, and marketing of products—and shared practical insights. Among the key findings was, that clear and simplified policy frameworks are needed to scale up the implementation of paludiculture. Equally crucial is taking action. The success story of peat moss cultivation, which is already economically viable today, demonstrates that this path is worthwhile.

At the poster presentation, paludiculture took up the largest section of the exhibition. Visitors could learn about initiatives such as the PaludiNet and the LivingLab Teufelsmoor. Exhibits like paludi paper, insulation boards, and paludi-based filaments quickly became the starting point for lively discussions. Outside, visitors could also see the innovative harvesting machines from Wittrock, which have been specially adapted for use on Paludi sites and have already been tested in our projects.

In addition, the Building Based on Biobased (BBoBB) showroom was on display, where visitors learned how sustainable building and insulation materials are produced from wood and renewable raw materials, such as cattails.

Overall, the topic of paludiculture was more prominent than ever at this year’s Eco Congress. It became particularly clear that German-Dutch cooperation holds great potential: differing political frameworks and approaches open up valuable opportunities to learn from one another and advance the implementation of paludiculture.

Authors: Sophia Storm and Jessica Meißner, both from the Lower Saxony Paludiculture Competence Center