AtlasPeatland Atlas 2023Facts and figures about wet climate guardians German version Mooratlas 2023 Image credits Peatland Atlas 2023 Atlas The Peatland Atlas 2023 highlights the consequences of the destruction of these unique habitats, but also the potential of wet peatlands for mitigating climate change. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Succow Stiftung, BUND für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Global Peatlands Initiative Press release | Peatland protection pays off - Massive conservation and restoration is needed Press release With more than two billion tonnes of CO2, the draining of peatlands is responsible for about 4% of all human-made emissions globally. This is outlined in the Peatland Atlas 2023 - Facts and figures on wet climate guardians, published today by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, the Michael Succow Stiftung (partners in the Greifswald Mire Centre) and BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland/Friends of the Earth Germany), with support of the Global Peatlands Initiative. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Succow Stiftung, BUND für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Global Peatlands Initiative, Joan Lanfranco 12 brief lessons about peatlands Read more Peatland Atlas 2023: Foreword Peatland Atlas 2023 Peatlands are a mixture of elements: they are both water and land at the same time. They form where the soil is wet all year round. Waterlogging prevents dead plant material from decomposing, creating their characteristic organic soils over thousands of years. And peatlands can be found all over the world, from the Arctic to Europe and the tropics, all the way to Tierra del Fuego at the tip of South America. They are impressive ecosystems, rich in rare animal and plant species. Their peat soils store enormous amounts of carbon, so they play a decisive role in climate protection – as long as they stay wet. Dr. Imme Scholz, Antje von Broock, Jan Peters, Dianna Kopansky What are mires and peatlands? What are mires and peatlands? A very special ecosystem Peatland Atlas 2023 Mires are intact peatlands and home to rare plants, rare animals – and enormous amounts of carbon. But draining them for economic reasons puts them and their resident organisms at massive risk. It poses a massive threat to the climate too. Greta Gaudig , Dr. Franziska Tanneberger Europe: small continent, ancient landscapes Peatland Atlas 2023 Few peatlands in Europe are located within protected areas, and even there, they are not always protected adequately. National agricultural policies provide little or no support for the development of sustainable peatland-management practices. Dr. Franziska Tanneberger , Asbjørn Moen Of mires and myths: not just a crime scene Peatland Atlas 2023 For thousands of years, peatlands have served as the backdrop for horror stories. In gruesome legends and lore, they swallow people and even whole towns, are the home of ghosts, the devil, and many other supernatural spectacles. Elmar Tannert Peatlands around the world: under threat almost everywhere Peatland Atlas 2023 Peatlands exist in the mountains, in lowlands, along rivers and at the coast. Their vegetation and condition vary from one climate zone to another, but all types of peatland have one thing in common: their continued existence is in danger. Dr. Alexandra Barthelmes Peatlands and climate action Biodiversity: safe havens for ecosystem in danger Peatland Atlas 2023 Peatlands all over the world sustain a rich range of habitats and species, including a wide range of threatened and endemic ones. Policymakers are called upon to protect these unique landscapes. Tatiana Minayeva Climate crisis: drained peatland results in heated planet Peatland Atlas 2023 Because they take up greenhouse gases, peatlands cool the climate – but only as long as they are intact. But these peat-covered areas have been – and still are being – drained for agriculture, forestry, peat extraction and human settlement, exacerbating global warming. Hans Joosten Environmental history: fallacies of improvement Peatland Atlas 2023 Humans have drained peatlands for centuries to provide land for farming and settlement. History may help us recognize the fallacies of supposed improvement, remember the presence of destroyed and often invisible peatlands in our landscapes, and advocate for the protection and restoration of peatlands. Dr. Katja Bruisch Peat: peatlands' raw materials Peatland Atlas 2023 Peat consists of dead organic matter accumulated over thousands of years. Since centuries, peat soils have been exploited to obtain fuel or raw material for growing media. Peat extraction and use is harmful to the environment. Sustainable alternatives will only prevail if politicians act. Greta Gaudig , Olivier Hirschler Energy: scorched earth Peatland Atlas 2023 People have been using peat for heat since the Bronze Age. They still do so today in countries like Finland, Belarus and Rwanda. This is not sustainable – but there are new, climate-friendly ideas for how peatlands can help generate heat and power. Monika Hohlbein Peatlands explained: This is how mires protect our climate YouTube Video Watch on YouTube This external content requires your consent. Please note our privacy policy.
Peatland Atlas 2023 Atlas The Peatland Atlas 2023 highlights the consequences of the destruction of these unique habitats, but also the potential of wet peatlands for mitigating climate change. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Succow Stiftung, BUND für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Global Peatlands Initiative
Press release | Peatland protection pays off - Massive conservation and restoration is needed Press release With more than two billion tonnes of CO2, the draining of peatlands is responsible for about 4% of all human-made emissions globally. This is outlined in the Peatland Atlas 2023 - Facts and figures on wet climate guardians, published today by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, the Michael Succow Stiftung (partners in the Greifswald Mire Centre) and BUND (Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland/Friends of the Earth Germany), with support of the Global Peatlands Initiative. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Succow Stiftung, BUND für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland, Global Peatlands Initiative, Joan Lanfranco
Peatland Atlas 2023: Foreword Peatland Atlas 2023 Peatlands are a mixture of elements: they are both water and land at the same time. They form where the soil is wet all year round. Waterlogging prevents dead plant material from decomposing, creating their characteristic organic soils over thousands of years. And peatlands can be found all over the world, from the Arctic to Europe and the tropics, all the way to Tierra del Fuego at the tip of South America. They are impressive ecosystems, rich in rare animal and plant species. Their peat soils store enormous amounts of carbon, so they play a decisive role in climate protection – as long as they stay wet. Dr. Imme Scholz, Antje von Broock, Jan Peters, Dianna Kopansky
What are mires and peatlands? A very special ecosystem Peatland Atlas 2023 Mires are intact peatlands and home to rare plants, rare animals – and enormous amounts of carbon. But draining them for economic reasons puts them and their resident organisms at massive risk. It poses a massive threat to the climate too. Greta Gaudig , Dr. Franziska Tanneberger
Europe: small continent, ancient landscapes Peatland Atlas 2023 Few peatlands in Europe are located within protected areas, and even there, they are not always protected adequately. National agricultural policies provide little or no support for the development of sustainable peatland-management practices. Dr. Franziska Tanneberger , Asbjørn Moen
Of mires and myths: not just a crime scene Peatland Atlas 2023 For thousands of years, peatlands have served as the backdrop for horror stories. In gruesome legends and lore, they swallow people and even whole towns, are the home of ghosts, the devil, and many other supernatural spectacles. Elmar Tannert
Peatlands around the world: under threat almost everywhere Peatland Atlas 2023 Peatlands exist in the mountains, in lowlands, along rivers and at the coast. Their vegetation and condition vary from one climate zone to another, but all types of peatland have one thing in common: their continued existence is in danger. Dr. Alexandra Barthelmes
Biodiversity: safe havens for ecosystem in danger Peatland Atlas 2023 Peatlands all over the world sustain a rich range of habitats and species, including a wide range of threatened and endemic ones. Policymakers are called upon to protect these unique landscapes. Tatiana Minayeva
Climate crisis: drained peatland results in heated planet Peatland Atlas 2023 Because they take up greenhouse gases, peatlands cool the climate – but only as long as they are intact. But these peat-covered areas have been – and still are being – drained for agriculture, forestry, peat extraction and human settlement, exacerbating global warming. Hans Joosten
Environmental history: fallacies of improvement Peatland Atlas 2023 Humans have drained peatlands for centuries to provide land for farming and settlement. History may help us recognize the fallacies of supposed improvement, remember the presence of destroyed and often invisible peatlands in our landscapes, and advocate for the protection and restoration of peatlands. Dr. Katja Bruisch
Peat: peatlands' raw materials Peatland Atlas 2023 Peat consists of dead organic matter accumulated over thousands of years. Since centuries, peat soils have been exploited to obtain fuel or raw material for growing media. Peat extraction and use is harmful to the environment. Sustainable alternatives will only prevail if politicians act. Greta Gaudig , Olivier Hirschler
Energy: scorched earth Peatland Atlas 2023 People have been using peat for heat since the Bronze Age. They still do so today in countries like Finland, Belarus and Rwanda. This is not sustainable – but there are new, climate-friendly ideas for how peatlands can help generate heat and power. Monika Hohlbein
