Our measures for water retention at the Breitenfelder Moor are taking effect
Under the management of the foundation Stiftung Naturschutz from the district of Rotenburg Wümme, we carried out another restoration of the peatland's core area in 2022.
An artificial ditch, built decades ago, drained the bog in order to make use of agricultural land adjacent to the Breitenfeldermoor. Over a length of 340 meters, the peatland was permanently drained by the ditch. Unfortunately it was not allowed to remove the ditch, nor could it be relocated outside the bog. The only viable measure consisted in piping. In September we were able to complete the task without serious damage to the soil, thanks to the drought. Embankments, formed with the excavated material, prevent rainwater from flowing off into adjacent areas.
The measures to retain surface water in the bog areas were an immediate success after their completion in the autumn of 2022. Since then, the winter and spring precipitation also contributed to rewetting a significant bog area. Moreover, thanks to the die-back of numerous water-consuming birch trees and the spread of peat moss, the bog now has suitable conditions for its regeneration.
