Expert: Agriculture on Moors is Finite - Bavaria's peatlands face collapse as 40% of farmed soil risks vanishing by 2050

World Wetlands Day on February 2 draws attention to the declining state of peatlands in Bavaria. Experts warn that up to 40 percent of farmed peat soil in the area could disappear within 30 years due to subsidence. The issue has pushed policymakers and farmers to rethink how these areas are used.

For years, Bavaria's peatlands were drained for peat extraction and agriculture. But this practice has led to severe soil loss, making farming unsustainable in many areas. Professor Matthias Drösler of Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University predicts that a quarter of the region's farmed peatland may become unusable in its current form within 15 years.

Environmental groups and researchers now advocate for rewetting drained peatlands. The Bavarian government has set a target to restore 25 percent of peatland by 2040 through rewetting projects. Since 2020, around 1,500 hectares out of 220,000 have already been restored, mainly in protected zones like the Altmühltal Nature Park and the Bayernmoor.

Farmers are being encouraged to shift to paludiculture—growing wetland plants such as reeds and bulrush for materials like paper and insulation. Economic incentives are also being introduced to help them transition away from traditional farming on drained peat soils.

The loss of peatland threatens both agriculture and climate protection efforts. Rewetting initiatives and alternative farming methods could secure the future of these landscapes. With government targets in place, the next decade will be critical for Bavaria's peatlands.