News
2025
New project: MOOReturn
Saving 3,400 tons of CO₂ per year
10/01/2025 From January 2025, the project MOOReturn will combine the large-scale rewetting of peatland with the cultivation, material and energy recovery and marketing of paludiculture raw materials on a total area of 200 hectares.
With estimated CO2 savings of 3,400 tons per year, “MOOReturn” will make a significant contribution to the goals of the National Peatland Protection Strategy and the federal-state target agreement on peatland protection.
Along the Upper Peene in the vicinity of the town of Malchin (Mecklenburg Lake District), the focus is on peatland revitalization, water level optimization and biomass harvesting on various peatland areas. In addition, new possibilities for pulping and material recycling as paper or packaging material, fiberboard and building materials as well as chemical raw materials are to be tested and immediately included in the BMEL-funded project “toMOORow - Alliance of Pioneers”. The degressive thermal utilization supports the development of progressive material utilization at the beginning and enables the participating companies to increase their own contribution. Residual materials are to be marketed as by-products (e.g. fertilizer granulate production).
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) is funding the “MOOReturn” project in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 4.3 million euros until 2027. Under the leadership of the German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ), a total of nine partners from science, administration and industry are involved. The Universities of Greifswald and Rostock are providing scientific support for GHG measurements and flora/fauna surveys in MOOReturn. The University of Bonn is investigating material recycling. The company Werner GmbH, the company Agrotherm, moor managers and the mayor of Malchin, the 'Wasserwerk der Zukunft' and the Michael Succow Foundation are also involved. Regional agriculture is supporting the project.
Become a peatland specialist!
New qualification program
06/01/2025 For a new five-year qualification and practical program to become a peatland specialist, 10 Bachelor's and Master's graduates are being looked for. With a curriculum and a certificate from the University of Greifswald and the Landeslehrstätte für Naturschutz, the programme aims to counteract the current shortage of specialists for peatland revitalization and help meet the increasing demand for specialists.
Over the 5-year term, it offers:
- Paid positions (E13/E9A/B)
- Training and work placements at the LUNG with a focus on rewetting projects
- Insight into the practical implementation of nature conservation projects and climate protection measures
- Prospects for the future in an innovative and interdisciplinary field
The program starts in April 2025, applications are still possible until January 13. Further information and application for graduates with a Bachelor's degree and graduates with a Master's degree.
Dreaming of wet peatlands
Peatland jobs for Christmas and New Year!
20/12/24 22/12/2024 Dear peatland friends, we at the GMC are “Dreaming of a wet peatland” (or many) constantly and, of course, at Christmas, too. Not dreaming only, but working hard to make it come true. That’s why – so close to Christmas – we let the bells ring for our current job announcements, 21 in total. If they were gifts, they would pile up under the Christmas tree!Please distribute widely, so these job ads can be like a present to a suitable person and a contribution to the efforts of rewetting peatlands and protecting the climate. For Christmas this year we can justifiably so sing: “We wish you rewetted peatlands, we wish you rewetted peatlands and a happy new year“ - great thanks to everybody joining, supporting or following us in 2024!
More information on our job announcements:
Contribute to pioneering research on the novel ecosystems of rewetted peatlands Contribute to pioneering research on the novel ecosystems of rewetted peatlands as part of an interdisciplinary and international team! The newly established Collaborative Research Center “WETSCAPES2.0”, funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), is seeking talented and motivated scientists and technical experts to join us in understanding the dynamic processes shaping these unique landscapes.
We are hiring:
1 Scientific Coordinator
10 Postdoctoral Researchers
16 Doctoral Researchers
4 Technical Experts
Our research network brings together the expertise of leading institutions:
University of Greifswald
University of Rostock
IGB Berlin
GFZ Potsdam
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry Jena
Humboldt University of Berlin
Together, we investigate the biogeochemical, hydrological, and biological processes in rewetted peatlands and their role in the broader landscape, focusing on water and matter fluxes as well as microbial and biological drivers.
Here more information on the overarching research themes, training programs, and application details.