PaluDivers

Project title

Full title: „Development and accompaniment of the testing of nature conservation minimum standards for the conservation and promotion of biodiversity in future paludicultures on agricultural land“, short title: „PaluDivers“

Duration

September 2020 – August 2023

Funding authority

The German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (Bundesamt für Naturschutz, BfN) 

with means of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)

Funding amount

299,493€

Project Leader

Prof. V. Luthardt, Prof. I. Schleip

Background

Currently, more than 90% of organic soils in Germany are in use. Since the drainage-based agriculturally used peat soils are responsible for about 37% of the GHG emissions of the agricultural sector, there is an enormous potential for emission savings. It is assumed that wet forms of use of peatland sites (paludicultures) will gain in importance; paludicultures are currently in the early testing phase in Germany and neighbouring countries. Since paludicultures can act as substitute habitats for peatland-typical species when used in an adapted manner, minimum standards of nature conservation should be formulated for these forms of management. From a nature conservation point of view, it is crucial to further develop the synergies between climate protection and nature conservation in establishing novel wet uses of peatland soil.

Project objective

The aim of the PaluDivers project is to develop minimum nature conservation standards for production-oriented management of wet organic soils while (largely) preserving the peat body (paludiculture) on agricultural land. Paludiculture projects that have already been put into practice are to be analyzed for their effects on nature conservation. On this basis, recommendations are to be developed as to which data should be collected to evaluate the development of biodiversity in paludiculture projects. New paludiculture pilot projects should be advised and supported in the implementation of biodiversity-oriented monitoring activities.

Project procedure

Contact persons

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the project, please contact the project managers:

Friedrich Birr & Laura Höfer

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Management
Faculty of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation
Schicklerstraße 5
16225 Eberswalde

Friedrich.Birr@hnee.de

Laura.Hoefer@hnee.de