Restoration of Central European fens – the larger context

2018

Fens are groundwater-fed wetlands that once covered substantial surfaces in Central Europe. They deliver important services to society including carbon fixation, water buffering, biodiversity and nutrient retention. Nowadays most of these wetlands have been lost or highly decreased in size or quality. This has led to enormous losses in water buffering capacity and biodiversity and huge releases of carbon and nutrients. Despite all this negative effects of drainage even today freshwater wetlands still face the highest loss rate of all European habitat types. On the other hand, many countries have started restoration programs to get at least some of the functions of the lost wetlands back. Th…