Wind turbines, photovoltaic systems or biomass thermal power stations – there are now all sorts of technical aids to protect the climate. But nature itself has also taken precautions to defend itself against human influences. In the southeast of the market town of Kirchseeon, for example, is one of these seemingly inconspicuous protective structures: the Kirchseeoner Moos. The municipality now wants to renaturate this wetland in the district of Osterseeon in cooperation with the Bavarian State Estates. On the one hand, this should contribute to more climate protection, on the other hand, the measure should also help with future floods in the area.
That’s why Kirchseeon Mayor Jan Paeplow (CSU) called the project a “win-win situation” at the municipal council meeting on Monday evening. In this, Ewald Sticksel, manager of the state farm in Freising, which also operates the experimental station in Osterseeon, presented the role of moors in climate protection. “They can make a major contribution to CO2 savings,” says the expert. Peatlands therefore play a special role in the carbon cycle and for climate protection: Between 26 and 44 percent of the organic carbon stored in soils worldwide is bound in peatlands, although only three to four percent of the world’s land areas are covered by peatlands.
The cooling evaporation is important for the regional climate
One of these wetlands is on the outskirts of Kirchseeon. The area, which is several hectares in size, is now to be restored to its original state. “Near-natural, non-drained moors are habitats for specific flora and fauna,” says a community statement. According to the administration, they also have a regulating effect on the water and nutrient balance and a cooling evaporation effect, which is important for the local and regional climate.
But that’s not all: the soil also absorbs pollutants that are broken down or converted in various biochemical processes. However, this only works if the moor has sufficient moisture. For this reason, restoration of the natural groundwater conditions must be considered as an essential goal in renaturation measures on peat soils, according to the town hall administration. If the area is rewetted, between ten and 35 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare and year can be avoided in this way.
Flooding occurs regularly in the Kirchseeoner Moos.
(Photo: Christian Endt)
However, the wetland in the east of Kirchseeon does not only have its good sides. If there is a lot of rain, there are regular floods in the local district of Osterseeon. The municipality has already initiated a number of measures to improve the situation for local residents, but so far there has been no sustainable solution. But here, too, the renaturation of the moor could make a contribution. In the best case, this could lead to a new possibility of holding back water that occurs, for example in the event of heavy rain events, as the municipality writes in a statement. In this way, larger amounts of water could be “collected” even before the municipality of Moos.
However, it is still unclear whether this idea can also be implemented technically. This is now to be found out in a feasibility study commissioned by the municipality together with the Bavarian State Estates. The costs for this are borne equally by the two partners. “It would be a nice thing,” said Mayor Paeplow, who hopes the renaturation will result in a symbiosis of flood protection and CO2 savings. Not only would the suffering residents of the Kirchseeoner Moos benefit from this, but the entire district of Ebersberg.