Monitoring of peatland restoration with regard to climate change (2014–2017)
The project, which is supported by the Bavarian State Ministry of Environment and Consumer Protection covers the (1) implementation of restoration measures in degraded peatlands and (2) scientific investigations on the efficiency and success of restoration measures in degraded peatlands in north-east Bavaria
The implementation of appropriate restoration measures, in particular rewetting, contributes to the mitigation of climate change as well as to the improvement of important habitats for many specialised and endangered animal and plant species. Therefore, we investigate the present status of two peatlands in Steinwald (north-eastern Bavaria) and develope a restoration concept, which is now gradually being put into practice.
Peatland restoration has become a common nature conservation goal, while it is still a complex task and the desired outcomes are not always reached. Therefore, we are assessing the success of past rewetting measures in previously afforested peatlands. We are mapping vegetation, habitat characteristics and selected animal groups (birds, dragonflies, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians) in 12 peatlands, which have been rewetted in the period 1998–2015. The results show, how the peatlands develop in the first years after measure implementation and which goals can be reached within this timeframe.
The project is a cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (Prof. Christoph Moning, faunistic survey), the Association for Bird Protection LBV (Dr. Helmut Beran, implementation of restoration measures) and the Rescue Centre for Reptiles, Munich (ARM, public relations).
Contact person at the Chair of Restoration Ecology:
Prof. Johannes Kollmann (project coordination): Tel. 08161-71-4144; Email jkollmann[at]wzw.tum.de
Katharina Strobl (project processing, PhD student): Tel. 08161-71-4141, Email katharina.strobl[at]tum.de