Climate-friendly peatland management in Germany: stakeholder participation and microeconomic analysis

Authors:
Lena Schaller, Jochen Kantelhardt, Jan-Philipp Schägner, Matthias Drösler

Book:
After Wise Use – The Future of Peatlands, Proceedings of the 13th International Peat Congress: Pristine Mire Landscapes

Venue:
Tullamore, Ireland

Keywords:
agricultural-use-of-peatlands, climate-effects-of-peatland-use, farm-surveys, stakeholder-participation

Documentfile:
Schaller 2008: Climate-friendly peatland management in Germany

Summary:

German peatlands are often used intensively for agriculture. Since climate-friendly peatland management
demands less land use intensity, a decrease in agricultural income is to be expected. In this regard the potential to re-organise the use of peatlands is analysed. As socio-economic conditions vary significantly throughout Germany, the study takes place in six sample regions. To measure local diversity, stakeholder workshops as well as farm surveys are realised. First results indicate the prospects for adaptation and development of agricultural land use and, as a result, the potential to re-organise land use in a more climate-friendly way varies significantly due to variation in conditions between different regions.