Facing increasingly frequent heatwaves across Germany, the President of the German District Association (DLA), Achim Brötel, is calling for increased efforts in the rewetting of peatlands. He argues that improved water management and the restoration of large-scale peatland ecosystems are crucial for groundwater levels and natural water storage.
Speaking to the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, Brötel emphasized the necessity of a fundamental shift in approach to water resource management in light of the escalating challenges posed by extreme heat. He stressed that any large-scale transformation of peatlands must be both economically viable and socially acceptable to ensure successful implementation.
To facilitate this undertaking, Brötel urged the federal government to provide consistent and reliable funding. He specifically proposed the creation of a “Peatland Transformation Fund” suggesting that the infrastructure funds earmarked by the federal government to achieve climate neutrality offer a suitable basis for such support. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to bolster Germany’s resilience against the impacts of climate change.
