230612 BSPC JPeters
Peatlands in the Baltic Searegion and their key role inEuropean Green Deal policiesJan Peters, Michael SuccowFoundationBSPC Standing Committee MeetingStralsund, 12thJune2023J.Petersgreifswaldmoor.de2•Mostimportantcomponent: Peat!•Peatland witha peatlayerof>30 cm•Organicsoil/ peatformedbyin-situdied-off biomass(mostlysub-surface)•PermanentwatersaturationGrowthislarger thandecayWithoutwaterlevelclosetosurfacepeatwill getlost ultimatelyRewettingisprerequisiteforpeatlandrestorationWhat arePeatlands?greifswaldmoor.de3What arePeatlands?J. PetersCelebratingwetpeatlands.......as key for biodiversity, nutrient / water retention,local cooling & other ecosystem servicesgreifswaldmoor.de44N2OCH4CO2J.PetersPeatislike gherkins: Whenyouremovetheconservingwater, theorganicmatterrotsawaygreifswaldmoor.deCheeseMilkFromdrainedpeatlandsFrommineralsoilsCO2footprintofdairyproducts,per kilogram/ litreFootprintofpeatlandproductsDairyproducts4–5xhighercarbonfootprintfromdrainedpeatlandsthanfrommineralsoils5greifswaldmoor.degreifswaldmoor.de6 12/06/23Peatlandsin Europehttps://www.unep.org/resources/global-peatlands-assessment-2022https://greifswaldmoor.de/files/dokumente/Infopapiere_Briefings/2021_EU_Restoration_Targ_Peatlands_Policy%20brief.pdfTanneberger et al. (2021): https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/8/381/pdfPeatlandsin Europegreifswaldmoor.de7Europe’speatlands 25%degraded,EU 50%greifswaldmoor.de8Largestpartsusedforagriculture& forestryPeatlandsin Europegreifswaldmoor.de9Largestpartsusedforagriculture& forestry25 % ofagri&landuseGHGemissionsEU 2ndlargestGHGemitterglobally(~230 MtCO2eq /a,after Indonesia)~7 % oftotal EUGHG emissionsPeatlandsin EuropeX = % ofagricultural landY = % ofagricultural landuseemissionsgreifswaldmoor.de10Rethinking& restorepeat-landscapes11Alternative incomeoptions needtobedeveloped•Paludiculture : wetlandcrops+ innovativevaluechains•Carbon Farming : Rewardingofemissionreduction(e.g. publicpaymentorappropriatecreditschemes)Rethinking peat-landscapesgreifswaldmoor.decPaludiculture products•Constructionandinsulationmaterial•Fibresfor packaging•Pottingsoiland substrates•Bioenergy•BiorefineryBaltic SeaRegion hashigh potential tobecomeinnovationclustergreifswaldmoor.degreifswaldmoor.de13CommonAgricult.Policy2030BiodiversityStrategyNatureRestorationLawSoilMissionSoil HealthLawClimateLawFit for 55LULUCF Reg .EU Green DealCarbonRemoval&FarmingFarm toForkHorizon2020Main driver of peatlanddegradation due topayments for drainage-based agriculturePayments counteractmajor policy targets(climate, biodiversity,wateretc.)EU Green Deal & peatlandsTargets can only bereached, if sources(peatlands) are notcounteracting sinks(forest)GuidedbyEU‘sinternationalcommitments(e.g.Paris Agreement,Montreal Biodiv.Framework)100 Soil Living LabsacrossEUgreifswaldmoor.de14Current status in National CAP Strategic plans:•Delay of GAEC 2 “Protection of wetlands and peatlands” to 2025 inmany MS•Soft regulations for GAEC 2 in MS (continued maintenance of drainagesystems)•Few specific intervention for rewetting and paludiculture(EcoSchemesor AECS)•EU Court of Auditors stressed in subsequent reports that CAP needsto deliver more on climate, esp. with peatlands / organic soils•Member States should strengthen support for peatland rewetting &paludiculture to reach LULUCF climate targetsCAP counteracts EU Green Deal when it comes to peatlandsSource:Midler (IEEP) et al. (2023): https://ieep.eu/publications/environmental-and-climate-assessments-of-cap-strategic-plans/ (focuson France, Spain, Poland and Germany)EU Common Agricultural Policy& peatlandsgreifswaldmoor.de15 12/06/23•Instrument for EU2030 Biodiversity Strategy•Recognition of importance for biodiversity and climate(recital 54)•Emphasis on alternative use such as paludiculture (recital55) it’s not about “renaturation”•Peatlands under agricultural use (Art. 9.4) prescribesrestoration of:30 % by 2030, 1⁄4 rewetted50 % by 2040, 1⁄2 rewetted70 % by 2050, 1⁄2 rewetted•Flexibilities (other land uses like forestry, peat extraction)EU Nature Restoration Law & peatlandsgreifswaldmoor.de16 12/06/23Withproposedrewettingtargets,large potential forGHG emissionreductionisnotrealised(max.33%)LULUCF targetshardtoreachEU Nature Restoration Law & peatlandsgreifswaldmoor.de17 12/06/23Building legacy across•15Knowledge Sites•6Action Sites•14Partner CountriesHorizonGreen Deal ProjectRewettedpeatlandsitesin Europe...greifswaldmoor.de18...arewetislandsin drainedlandscapestoday...Green Deal policiesneedtochangethisin future!Jan PetersSuccow Foundation, Partner in theGMCjan.peters@succow-stiftung.deFollow uson Twitter:@greifswaldmoor@succow_stiftungThanks for your attention!greifswaldmoor.de