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Efficient Peatland Management for Renewable Resources (EMBER)
MOTIVATION
Near-natural peatlands store large amounts of carbon and play a crucial role in climate protection. They also serve as important habitats for endangered species and regulate the water cycle by absorbing and retaining water like a sponge during periods of heavy precipitation. Drained peatland soils, on the other hand, can hardly provide these services anymore and release significant amounts of greenhouse gases.
One opportunity for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that is still largely untapped today lies in the increased use of peatland plants and byproducts, as well as in the multifunctional utilization of the plants’ natural synthetic capacity. Sustainable peatland products can be used not only as construction and utility materials (reed stalks, grass fibers) but also, beyond that, their constituents can be utilized to generate added value.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND INNOVATIVE CONTENT
The goal of the EMBER (Efficient Peatland Management for Renewable Resources) project is to develop and test production and utilization processes for products derived from plants grown using peatland-friendly management practices. This will be achieved through an initial screening of bog plants to assess their distribution, constituents, and potential uses, followed by the development of specific strategies for:
• Specialized seeding, cultivation, and harvesting strategies for plants in bogs (ATG)
• Requirements for the agricultural technology necessary for adapted, peatland-compatible management practices (ATG)
• Detailed processes, including automation, for peatland products, as well as process optimization (ITVP)
• An assessment of economic viability (production costs) and sustainability (GHG emissions) (ITVP)
In addition, ongoing work on biotope mapping of the peatland areas in the nature reserves within the study area will be supplemented by plant screening and brought up to date.
Contact person: Sekretariat ITVP
