Moorland
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climate resistence

 

Moors are true superheroes for both climate protection and flood defense, storing up to 30 times more CO₂ per hectare than tropical rainforests—around 50-100 tons per hectare in intact peatlands—effectively locking away carbon for millennia and preventing it from fueling global warming. In Germany, these wetlands hold about 7% of global soil carbon despite covering just 5% of the land, but their sponge-like ability to absorb massive rainfall (up to 10 times their weight in water) also slows runoff, reduces peak flood flows by 20-50% in catchments, and stabilizes groundwater—as dramatically shown in the 2024 Voralpenland floods south of Munich, where drained moors couldn't buffer the deluge, exacerbating reptile habitat losses. Sadly, over 90% of Germany's original 1.5 million hectares of moors have been drained since the 19th century for agriculture, forestry, and peat extraction (now used for horticulture), releasing stored CO₂ equivalent to 10% of national emissions annually and turning these ecosystems into sources rather than sinks. Peat extraction alone emits 5-10 million tons of CO₂ yearly in Europe, while drainage dries out peat, igniting wildfires and biodiversity collapse—home to rare species like sundews, dragonflies, and bog specialists. Protection and restoration are gaining momentum: Rewetting via dams, blockages, and grazing (e.g., Highland cattle in Bavarian projects) rebuilds hydrology, cuts emissions by 90%, boosts habitats, and even qualifies for carbon credits under EU policies. Initiatives like the German Moor Protection Strategy and LIFE peatland projects aim to restore 200,000 hectares by 2030, proving "Moors must be wet!"—a mantra from ecologist Michael Succow—delivers climate neutrality, flood resilience, and wildlife havens in one