On Sept 12, Brandenburg's Minister of Climate Protection and Agriculture Axel Vogel visited the Möllmer Seewiesen to find out more about the BluMo project, which is being implemented by the State Office for the Environment in cooperation with the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB).
Along with the Rhinluch and the Randow-Welsebruch, the Möllmer Seewiesen are part of the pilot project "Preserving Brandenburg's fenlands in a climate-friendly way - initiating fen conservation damming and management" (BLuMo). On about 750 hectares of demonstration area, the drainage of the moor soils is to be stopped in order to achieve a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. New management methods and techniques are being tested to ensure that the re-wetted areas can continue to be used for agriculture and that sustainable value creation is possible on moist and wet peatland soils. Supporting farmers in adapting their farming practices is a central component of the project. In the Möllmer Seewiesen, wet farming with water buffaloes is planned in cooperation with the farmer concerned. It is also planned to set up an advisory centre for wet moor management.
"Here, climate and peatland protection, water retention in the landscape and the EU Water Framework Directive as well as climate-friendly agricultural use are being implemented together in an exemplary manner," said Minister Axel Vogel. New forms of cultivation on agriculturally used wet moorland soils have to be tested and sustainable value creation from this moorland use must be facilitated, emphasised Minister Vogel. "The positive effect for climate protection is a considerably lower emission of greenhouse gases. I am pleased to see the great regional support for this project."
Background: Today, only about three percent of the former moorland area in Brandenburg are still intact wet peatlands that can contribute to climate protection. Almost all areas have been drained. 80 percent of the carbon-rich peatland soils in Brandenburg are used for agriculture. Using landscapes as water reservoirs additionally offers better adaptation options during extreme weather events such as droughts and heavy rainfall. High water levels also protect the peat, which in drained peatlands releases large amounts of carbon dioxide.
The ATB conducts research on innovative technologies for rewetted peatland sites and is significantly involved in two central moor protection projects in Brandenburg:
The project "Preserving Brandenburg's moorlands in a climate-friendly way - initiating moorland preservation and management" (BLuMo) is one of several pilot projects that contribute to implement the moorland protection programme in the state of Brandenburg. The project is scientifically accompanied, among others, by long-term studies on biodiversity and greenhouse gas emissions. Cooperation with the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy ensures the use of innovative and state-of-the-art technology as well as access to companies that are pursuing interesting and promising approaches in the field of biomass utilisation. The project is jointly run by the Brandenburg State Office for the Environment (LfU, coordination) and the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB). ATB's funding for the project is just under 1.6 million euros. The project will run for 10 years (01.2022 - 12.2031).
Further information on the project
Through the project Management and Biomass Utilisation of Wet Fens: Network of Model and Demonstration Projects in Moorland Regions of Brandenburg (WeTNetBB), started in 2023, a total of around 18.4 million euros of federal funding will be used until 2032 for climate-friendly moorland management and biomass utilisation and for educational offers and public relations work on the topic of climate protection through moorland management in Brandenburg. ATB's main tasks in the project include the development of a moorland-adapted management technique and profitable utilisation solutions for the biomass produced. The project is coordinated by the ATB. ATB's funding in the project amounts to almost 1.6 million euros. Further information on the project