Navigating Transformation: Perspectives On Peatland Futures In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is home to approximately 300,000 hectares of peatland, much of which was drained between 1960 and 1990 for intensive agriculture. Peatlands are the largest terrestrial carbon sinks on Earth and provide vital ecosystem services, yet their degradation has long-term environmental costs.
Since 2021, the regional government and local organizations have taken significant steps toward restoring these ecosystems. However, the process of rewetting peatlands is not without challenges—particularly in spatial planning and reconciling diverse stakeholder interests.
The BioValue project, funded by the European Union, has created an Arena for Transformation—a space for dialogue, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions. Although the project does not implement rewetting directly, it plays a key role in exploring pathways for change by fostering cross-sectoral engagement and knowledge exchange.
This is not a story of quick fixes, but of navigating transformation. Through collaboration, local knowledge, and shared vision, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is taking meaningful steps toward a sustainable future for its peatlands.
About BIOVALUE
The BioValue project, which began in July 2022, is approaching its conclusion. The project focuses on leveraging transformative change to enhance the value of biodiversity in spatial planning processes. It employs a research framework built on three key perspectives: spatial planning, environmental assessment, and economic and financing instruments.
This framework is being tested through three case studies, known as “Arenas for Transformation”: Rewetting Peatlands and reforestation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany; Municipal spatial planning in Mafra, Portugal; and Urban planning in Trento, Italy. By driving systemic changes in spatial policymaking, BioValue supports the integration of biodiversity into EU strategic actions.
