Climate – Berlin – Heinrich Böll Foundation for Moor Protection Agreements – Knowledge
Berlin (dpa) – The Heinrich Böll Foundation has spoken out in favor of an international agreement to protect moors in the interests of climate and species protection. Drained moors are responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions worldwide than global air traffic, said Imme Scholz from the board of the Greens-related foundation on Tuesday in Berlin. “From our point of view, it is important to reach a binding international agreement to protect intact peatlands and restore drained peatlands.”
Bogs bind a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) – a greenhouse gas. If they are drained, for example for agricultural use, the dry peat breaks down and releases the CO2. “Although drained peatlands make up less than half a percent of the earth’s land area, they are responsible for over four percent of all global man-made greenhouse gas emissions,” said Scholz.
The foundation will draw attention to the importance of moors for climate protection, among other things, with the “Mooratlas 2023” published on Tuesday, which was created in cooperation with the Greifswald Succow Foundation and the Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz (BUND).
“In Germany, drained moors cause seven percent of all greenhouse gas emissions,” said Scholz. Rewetting can quickly eliminate this source of emissions. “This is necessary for the actual Paris climate goals.” In addition to Germany and Europe, tropical and subtropical regions are also affected. In the past 15 to 20 years, large areas have been drained for palm oil or wood plantations. In the Congo Basin, according to her statement, rights of use are to be awarded for one of the world’s largest contiguous moors, for example for timber and oil extraction.
Scholz is in favor of Europe and Germany supporting other countries in protecting moors. Germany then pledged large sums to protect the climate and biodiversity.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230110-99-166383/2